New-York tribune., 1903-01-04
NO PosrMfSTREss: NO PoSToFFICE.

President Roosevelt has taken exactly the
right course in closing up the postofnce at In
dianola Miss where the postmistress, highly
respectable and capable colored woman. VINO
had filled the office for several years. was COM
pelled to resign by threats OF violence She had
been postmistress under President HARRISON
and was again appointed by PRESIDENT Mchlh-
lev nearly six years ago. She had the good Will
of the leading white people Of the neighborhood
and prominent white Democrats were her
bondsmen The rowdy white element, how
ever. recently undertook to persecute her.
Their demonstrations We're simply a mani
festation Of the lawless spirit which has been
developed by the lynching habit As has often
been shown in these columns, the liberation OF
lawlessness in the punishment of negroes who
commit crimes breeds the spirit of persecution
against respectable negroes. and even against
whites who offer any pretext for the e8cesses
of a riotously disposed population. Formerly
violence toward negroes was generally mani
Tested only toward those who had aroused the
resentment of the respectable portion of the
community Now the riffraf have adopted
negro batting as a sport, and the serious CIV
ilized whites have awakened to the need OF
stamping out this plague of barbarisn But IL
spreads and now its victims are not merely
worthless black men, but black women also'
and women of high character who have the
favor of respectable whites. The incident
shows the demoralizing influence OF the South
ern philosophy of negro rights when working
in the minds of the ignorant and truculent por-
ton of the white community. 1t is easy to un-
derstand how lot of rough fellows hanging
about barroom got to discussing the Charles
ton Collectorship. or some similar matter IN
polving Degro's right to hold osdce, and be-
thought themselves that they had in their neigh
borhaod q niger woman office holder, whom
thev had never before thought objecuonaDle.
Then they concluded that it would be smart to
teach the "niggers' lesson, and entered upon
their chiEalrous campaign
The wisdom OF appointing celered person TO
anv particular office IN a Southern white COM
munity IS often difficult to determine. 1t Is
generally mistake to force people TO transact
official business with person who is disagree
able to them On the other hand. it does not
do to adopt the principle that negroes are not
to be treated like other citizens The appoint
ment of the postmistress at Indianola did not
violate the best local white sentiment. Even IL
It had done SO, however, it would he the duty
of the government to defend its dignity and
protect its officials. regardless Of prejudice lt
is necessary to teach all who do not yet under
stand it that the United States is not to be trfed
with and that it persons misbehave themselVes
toward it and its officials, they cannot enjoy
its services and protection. If they persecute
postmasters they will get no mail. It may be
thought that such cure for rowdyism is rather
hard on the law abiding constituency Of the
Office. but it is the only course compatible with
the dignity of the government Moreover, law
abiding people also need to learn something.
The rowdfes flourish because other people toll
crate them and apologize for them and depre-
cate sharp punishment of their lawlessness.
These other people need TO learn that they. too,
will suffer FOR the misdeeds of the rowdies they
harbor.