The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1903-01-08
SOME LEADING EDITORIALS.
The InalsnoIa Incident.

New Orleans Times Democrat
In deciding to close the postoffce at Indianola,
Miss for the alleged reason that the lawless
element in that town has made it impossible
for q negro woman prudenty TO hold the posi-
ton, the president presents once more 10 pub
lie attention one OF the livld side lights Of the
race problem az the South
Inasn,uch az the people Of Tndianola have,
IN mass meeting assembled, protested against the
appointment Of the negro as postmaster there,
il is difficult to accept as conclusive the state
ments made in the dispatch sent to the president
by the negro womans friends. These men
practically assert that the woman has been forced
TO resign solely because Of the intimldating
threats Of the lawless element in the town
and they assert further that the situation re
quires that the president retain in Office this
negro woman. The situation requires nothing
of rhe kind. II requires only that a white citi-
zen be appointed IN place Of the negro. These
statements of the wouans friends are on their
face contradictory. II " were true that the ap-
pointee was acceptable 10 the reputable element
in the town at Indjanola and that only the law.
less element was opposed 10 her, there is no
sound reason why the question should ever have
been presented either 70 the president or 70
the postoihee department at Washington. Re
putabIe citizens should have united and stamped
out lawessness the moment It lifted its head
The men who signed that dispatch 10 the presi-
dent representing, according 70 their statement
the law-abiding reputable citizens OF the com
niwity should have combined and, by con
certed ana consolidated effort. made il npos-
sble for few lswless members OF society TO
defeat the will OF the intelligent majority To
fail to DO this is 10 pillory themselves before
the country who are unworthy 10 be
| American citizens. If, under the alleged cir
cumstsnces, they have failed to assert their
rights and to perform their duty, they have dem
onstrated beyond question that they are NOT
] re-r raFtzva tH.--
feeted no credit upon the State Of Mississippi
They have practically announced to the country
that in town Of that commonwealth few law
less citizens can intmidate and overawe the
whole community, 10 make that statement is
equivalent to saying that the lawless few are
| emineatly courageous and the law-abiding many
are eminently oowardy,
We decline, therefore, to believe that the rem
resentations made in that dispatch to the presi-
dent true. But even il they were true. II
would be none of the presidents business. II
would be the business of the people who live
at lndianoa. II the town is unable TO SIM
press awlsssness within its limits then it is
the duty ot the officers Of Sunfower country to
suppress it, and IL the officers Of the county
| are incompetent TO suppress H. it becomes then
| the duty OF Governor Longino 10 order out the
militia and to enforce law and maintain order
on every square foot Of the commonwealth. To
pass over the municipal, county and State an
lhctiuts anu 70 appeal tor help to the president
is little less than an insult TO the State OF Mis-
sssppi and 70 each and every person in il
Let US therefore, reserve judgment in this
matter. Let us not forget that the Hon. II. c.
Payne the postmaster general never LET'S slim an
opportunity to make heroes and heroines out az
the "sun-kissed children of Ham" He knowe
that incidents OF this kind iniame political pref
udice at the North and strengthen Mr. Roose-
velts grip upon the republican electorate Mr..
Paynss record leads the public 10 believe that
he would be swift TO take advantage Of ipst
such opportunity this Iudianola affair
He would rejoice 90 coin political capital ont ~
It. Let him attempt to do So If he will! The
South has for thirty-sx years resisted lust sucS
attempts and is prepared to resist them for-
ever We have no sympathy with the snir;,
OF lzNiessness but we can not blind ourselves
TO physical facts For years now--in season
and out Of season-Ne have warned republican,
presidents that they could not with impunity
appoint TO .efhes' Of this kind at the South
members Of the African race. For reasons
whish every enc who has lived IN this seetion
clearly understands, the whites resent il now.