The Port Gibson reveille. [volume] (Port Gibson, Miss.) 1890-current, 1903-03-26

New Orleans, March 20. 1904

WV OtA1ahFf ~ A5oos
To the Editor Of The Times Democrat:
have been sojourner in this city for
the past three months. during which
time have made closer observations IN
regard 10 Southern sentiment, as = feet.
ell through the newspapers, aud the ut
lerances of leading public men. than l
have ever attempted previously. Aud /
sincerely regret To say that the result is
that have been compelled TO change.
or at least modify. the opinion have
hitherto entertained in regard 10 the
Southern people. al'ude particularly
10 The Soulhern attitude towar the ne
gro and toward tie Northern people, and
In this respect am forced 10 the con
clusion that the South is, to say the
least, exceedingly unfortunate. Having
voted the Democratic ticket straight aud
regularly. beginning with my first vote,
and for more han forty years, ! do not
think that / can justly be accused Of
Northern prrjudicr sgainsi the South,
for as a mailer OF fact have felt that At
times the Southern people were grossly
and grievouslY wronged, and my sympa
lhies were holly with them IL their
struggle against - hai I conceived to be
Northern oppression. But temporary
residence here for three months and a
careful observation of the actual senti-
ment existing here toward the North
eompels the belief that I have hereto
fore greatly misunderstood this senli-
ment and the real position Of tia South.
ern people. 6nd there exists here an
intense aud bitter feeling toward the
North, which constantly crops out IN
various ways, Notwithstanding the ei.
forts to disguise ii on particular occa-
sons by fatering demonstrations for
some noteworthy person or persons from
the North. think can safely say that
do such feeling exists TO any extent in
the North against the South. Democrats
certainly can not be accused Of euter.
tanning any such feeling, and Republi-
cans utterly disclaim having any.
The Iudiauola postofice affair has, IN
my judgment, developed into one Of the
most unfortunate occurrences for the
South, aud incidentally for the Demo
cratic party Of the North, that could pos
sibly have happened. Aud in all that
has been written about It and including
the speeches Of the two United States
Senators from Mississippi concerning il.
have utterly failed 10 see any reason
able excuse whatever for thrusting such
an issue upon the public. And the only
possible excuse offered for il is that the |
poslmistress was a negress. II was uni |
versally conceded that the affairs of the |
Office had been conducted IN the mnst |
acceptable manner to the people Of Tn.
diauola. yet Notwithstanding this pub-
lie meeting was held. instigaied, As il
appears, chiefly by some one who want
e1 the Office, and the resignation Of the
postmislress demanded. II seems that
she had served several years, and, as
stated, most acceptablY. Tn about
year her term of Office would expire. but
10 matter about that, she must get out
now. Can anything more injudicious
than the movement to compel her to quit
the Office be conceived Is II suppo ,rd
that any President, with any backbone
whatever, would submit to being bull.
dozed in any such manuer1 Senator
rillman made q speech recently to a
large audience, composed mainly Of col
lege students, in Wisconsin, in which he
dwelt upon the Iniianola matter and AS
sailed the Presidents action therein,
bu, vote al the close Of the meeting
was almost unanimous in approval Of
the Presidents course. Aud this would
be found to be the sentiment throughout
the Nerth.
Having been engaged as a newspaper
editor and publisher for something like
thirty-6ve years, I take this occasion TO
say that regard the New Orleans Times
Democrat as 3 splendid newspaper. a
newspaper to be classed with the very
hest newspapers In the country, aud
New Orleans and the South are pariicu.
larly fortunate In its publication. 1
should be unable 10 point 10 any other
influence which In my judgment accom-
plishes so much for the material pros ,
periiy aud well-being Of the city and the
South as this paper, but with all the
good that results from its efforts there /,
are other papers, and possibly here, that
do more harm IN single issue than can
be overcome by the continued best ef =
forts OF the Times Democrat and papers
Of like character.
The negro question is Que which / do
not arrogate TO myself the wisdom 10 !
solve in the most judicious manner, but
I am bound 10 recognize the established
fact that under the Constitution and
laws OF the country the negro has been r
made a citizen of the United States, and /.
hence is entitled 10 all the protectlon .
guaranteed to all other citizens, and
whoever attempts 10 deprive him of this
or 10 deny him the rights and i
and inmunities OF citizen
ship is doing violence to the laws OF the
aud, aud Is disregarding the solemn OBJ
igation which rests upon as all for the
Of the peace and welfare
.ud oood order of fhe communffv