The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1903-01-29
A HIGH TONED COMMUNITY.

Trained from comment upon the recent
exhibitions of southern chivalry as eX-
hibitcd in the Indianola. Miss, postof-
ice case and the MURDER OF editor
Gongales by Lieutenant-goyer Till
man of South Carolina. Both were
manifestations of the so-called snper-
iority OF the southern race, one eyem-
plifying the power of race hatred. the
other the non extinction OF the idea of
personal iEilictlon OF justice or revenge
supposed to be Characteristic OF men OF
honor.
The first case is that OF the eolored
posumistcess of Ind1ano,e, Miss, o
harmless and efficient officer: woman
who served with credit under the Har-
rison administration and who was re
appointed by President Mckinley.
There was no charge of any kind
against her save that she was black.
That was enough for the royal gentle
men OF the south. 1t was cited against
her that she was black, further she
",
still further that she was black. The
history of the case throws a vivid SIDE.
light upon the little Mississippi age
and its standard of civilization and its
conception of justice.
1t appears that colorea porter had
been guilty of an offense. Just what,
is not stated, but it was sufficient for
the calling of a mass meeting. What
for? 1t Is not urged that the courts of
Mississippi are insufficient to punish
black offenders. No the mass meeting
did not need to assemble in protest
against the colored porter, it was
protest against the blacks in
general.
Taken for granted the southern
statement that the majority of the
blacks are vicious. it appears that
there were at least two families of
colored people who were not, one was
the family of the postmistress, the
other that of a colored physician who
had good practice and who was also
guilty of the crime of being fore-hand-
ed. Is it not striking that out of all
,the colored population of Indianola
>SsEse two should be singled out for at
Mi Is 1t not convincing argument
It while the southern white may de-
.se all negroes, he thoroughly hates
e successful ones? s'The negroes
e ignorant and depraved," cries the
s,uth, ''for that reason all attempts to
1ucate them must be suppressed. )"
he white woman who would teach
nem to read must be ostracised and
Taught her place, and If by any posi-.
bility any negro should rise, should
attain a position of trust and confidence
he must be stricken down.
The mass meeting was quiet and orr
lerly, there were no threats of vio-
lence, at least so we are told by the
sheriff who was in attendance. 1t was
proposed that the colored physician
SHOULD leave the town. The meeting
was highly merciful, if the man left
4 the town, left his tice, left his
beaten before leaving. AS Senator
McLaurin says, it was q high-toned"
crowd. The proposition was voted
down but enough of a minority insisted
so that the physician left ''to avoid
trouble. The majority had the good
sense not to vote to drive this man
from his home, but they did not have
the manhood to prcreft trouble and pro
tect the colored man ia his undoubted
right TO earn living in the commun
ity. So the doctor left-'to avoid
trouble" There is but one way for a
negro to avoid trouble in the south and
that is to etface himself, he must obey
the slightest within Of the white auto
cracy --even OF 9 minority of it, o. he
may expect condign punishment The
chivalrous people OF the south always
avoid trouble /, they can. Sometimes
they trouble by burning ne
gcoes cabin, sometimes by random
shooting, sometimes a knock in the
head is sufficient, sometimes mig
ger" more o. less has to be killed, but
in some way the peace loving Christian
white men of the south manage to
avoid trouble.
Having disposed Of The case Of the
colored doctor, the attention OF the
law abiding citizens of Indianola, Miss.
was turned to that other blot upon
their eschateon- the colored postmis-
tress. A committee OF three was APP
pointed to circulate petition asking
her to resign.
Now the colored people of the south
have learned wisdomlike Davy
Crocketts coon, they have learned
when it is time to come down" 1t is
the wisdom learned by the children of
Israel during the Egyptian bondage, it
lis the wisdom Of the serf and slave of
W verysland. it is the wisdom learned by
~ oped dog. The postmistress
3w better THAN to wait for 81 r,atitiOn