The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-03-15
WIIM IhGT0h. N. c.
FRIDAY, MARCH Is. 1901
THE PRESIDENT AND NEGRO OFF,
A IN THE SOUTH.

Mckinney mas dlICdus IlCoh LOQDL
on his hands growing out Of his gen.
uine or feigned fondness for negro Off
Gals over southern whites. The race
problem will not down even in Wash
ington with bumptious George White
out of the house forever. Negro office
holding is generally regarded in the
south as an offence n a nuisance
without justification The president
has to face the question. So soon af-
ter his second term begins this matter
is pressed upon his attention. One
Pink Morton, who is the negro post
master of Georgia's fine town, Athens,
is the particular cause of the latest
ofense. 1t is a fact known even to
Mckinley that this fellow has been
"a stenc in the nostrils of the white
people of Athens and Clarke county
for the last o u years, and they are
very weary over it, and are now pro-
testing in plain English against the
appointment of the said Pink" or any
other negro, genuine or mixed, to their
postoffice after the present term ex-
pires. The case very naturally is at
tracing very special attention, as it
is expected to make the policy of Nc
Kinley as to office-holders for the next
four years. He conferred his favors
to the south in the matter of appoint
ing negro officials and by George
Whites favor and influence flooded
North Carolina with postmasters
(some five of whom turned out to be
thieves) by the dozen. If Pink"
should ba kept in the face of earnest
protest. there may be some trouble
following that will not be comfortable
to that insatiate official, 1t is report
ed from Washington that negroes,
scaIIawags aud carpet-baggers who
survive in n south are up in arms
against the demanded change. There
are hopes that they will come to grief
IND better men put in their places. a
dispatch of h 9Th instant from Wash
ington to lie Charleston News and
Courier as to this effect:
To-day Representative Howard, of
Georgia, on behalf of the citizens of
Athens, called at the White Gus N
handed the president a petition signed
by all of the white citizens of that city
urging him to give the patrons of that
city a white postmaster. The present
postmaster at Athens is M. B.. Morton,
one of the offensive colored politicians
dn the state of Georgia. He is a con-
SSpicuOuS figure in what constitutes
the republican organization in the
Cracker" state, and he is familiary
called Pink" Morton, by reason of his
peculiar complexion. He was appoint
. ed about four years ago in spite of a
vigorous opposition on the part of the
white people of Athens. Postmaster
Morton is now in Washington seeking
reappOintment when his four year term
of office shall have expired. The petit
TONERS assert that the postal service
under a negro postmaster is inefficient
and distasteful to all of the white pat
rons of that Office. They say that ct
the present time there are several
white men aspirants for the office, who
are good, loyal republicans, and the
president is respectfully urged to APP
point one of them. The
democratic senators and representa-
tives from southern states are not
wasting much sympathy or influence
in behalf of What is known as the
Lilly White republican," organization
in their respective states.
For some time past it has been whis-
pered about in administration circles
that the president is not adverse to the
building up of a white republican par
ty in the south. A member of the cab
met, in commenting on the subject re-
Gently, the following Senti-
ments I'VE do not expect an all
white republican party in the south,
but we are sick and tired Of having it
all black"