The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-05-12
TUESDAY, MAY 10, 1908.
AN AFFRoNT TO THE SOUTH.

AN AFFRONT TO THE SOUTH.
Several days ago the washington Post
rebuked the people living in the neigh
borhood OF Gallatin Tenn, flor driving
of negro letter-carrier. In the same
issue OF the Post appeared an interview
with Congressman Gaines, OF Tennessee
in which that gentleman pointed out taat
the people IN the rural districts of the
South were afraid to have negro, be he
,e,tsr.carrter or what not. making reEu-
lar visits to the premises When the men
were away from home and the women
vera left unprotected.
Everybody who knows anything about
conditions in the South. knows that Con-
ersssn,aa Gaines states the case correctsy
and knows also that there Is abundant
ground for these apprehensions.
I'm Yesterdays Post. however is an
other editorial article rldculins the
statement OF Congressman Gaines ana
saving that it is not to be taken serious
~ eve know nothing OF the man HIM
self" says the Post. in referring 10 TINS
Tennessee letter carrier, "and are there
Fore willing to believe that he may be
rude, offensive or impolite, Negroes OF
ton are. But the chances are all against
IT. and In our opinion, negro letteF-car-
rier is quite as likely to behave hi'''seii
bis white one would be-
!; In other words, according to the WASH
inrton Post, a white man is Just as apt
= make a brutal assault upon Gin unpro-
tected white woman as negro IS!
That proposition is so absurd ana SO OF
fensive to every Southerner that 1t is
not TO be discussed. The Post is well
come to its view, but the newspaper
which holds to such views is incapable OF
raising intelligenuy upon question IKE
his. II the Post thinks that the state
ment Of Congressman Gaines is SHY OF
Exaggerated, let 1t send representative
around through the rural districts OF the
sputh and Interview white men here and
there. and 1T would come to different
conclusion
Indeed in the same Issue Of the Pest
containing the article ridicuing Mr..
Gaines, is an interview with Ex-Governor
Benton McMillin. of Tennessee, IN winch
he says that the people Of the Gallatin
neiehborhood collectively constitute one
Of the most enlightened, progressive ana
thoroughly liberal communities In the
United States, and he also concurs In the
statement of Congressman Gaines that
Ewhen the father. husband or son are
away from home, they are not ANXIOUS
"a have a negro official go to the home
md cross the threshold. either to deliver
mail or for any other purpose.
The Petersburg Index-Appeal In the
same connection, says:
Unless President Roosevelt is brutally
and mahgnanuy resolved upon eneonrag-
ing the most horrible outrages upon the
Southern whites-something we will not
believe except on the most conclusive
proof-then he will give serious consider
alton to wat Mr.. Gaines says, and find
come other place in the public service for
the negro, where he will be less menace
TO the community and In less danger to
himself.
we do not mean to say, Of course, that
every negro man is liable to commit this
terrible crime when opportunity offers,
but we do say that SO many such crimes
have been committee by black men, that
the Southern whites are afraid and are
reasonably afraid 10 have any negro
prowllng around the premises when the
men are absent and the women are de-
fenscless.
Congressman Gaines and Governor Nc
Mill!n understand the situation and they
speak the truth and they utter the SEN
timents of the Southern whites, Tho
Washington Post may rdcue these
statements, but in doing so 1t rIdicules
Itself 1t is no subject Tor ridlcule or trif.
ling. II is the most serious phase Of The
negro question and will forever receiv,
from the white men the serious consider
alton which It deserves, 1t would be wei
for the President. II he would take tn,
save view.