Cairo evening times. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1865-1866, 1865-09-21
A NEW PHASE OF THE NEGRO
QUESTION.

The negro question has again turned up in
Cairo, and IN new, and, we may say, more in
teresting phase. We will explain as clearly as
possible.
1t appears that some of our meddlesome citi-
zens, who might be in better business, lately
wrote to the ''powers thai be- representing
that the negroes were ill-treated by the whites
of this city, and that the military force now
here was insufficient to protect them We
think this will be news as we'll to the negroes
themselves as to the whites. As class, the
negroes have been well and considerably trea-
ted. True some of them may have been
knocked down on our streets, but some whites
have been knocked down also, and no particu-
lar fuss has been raised in consequence. Ia
ken as class, our negro population proper, is
as quiet and orderly as could be desired There
are exceptions, of course, but they are few and
far between. But frequently lazy, dssolute
blacks, employed on steamers, landing here,
throw up their situations, and with their little
earnings visit drinking holes, swallow large
and numerous potations of ''tanglefoot, swag-
ger through our streets and insult whites when
they are properly made to kiss mother earth
or forced to present themselves before one Of
our Justices of the Peace aud answer for their
audacity. -.
As we stated in the outset, some cowardly,
evll-disposed persons have written to the
''powers that be- representing that the ne
gro population of Cairo ale outrageously
treated by our citizens, and calling upon them,
the military authorities, to send here rcgi-
ment or battalion of black troops to protect
their fellow knsmen. In response to this in
telligence, the military authorities sent here
few days since, a Major, clothed with author
ity to investigate the matter and report the
condition of things. The Major. upon his
rival, called upon Major Cornelius, who is in
command Of this military post, and then upon
the Mayor. We do not know what the result
of his interview with Major G. was, but Mayor
Wilson informed him that our negroes were
not maltreated, but upon the contrary, being as
q class, quiet, orderly and law abiding, were
not molested. But hc also took the oppor-
tunity presented Of informing him where the
trouble-what then was-lay lst, in the
mischievous Vaccinations of whites, who were
ANXIOUS to instgate a riot and the blacks to an
assertion of rights they are not entitled to, and
the whites to evaporation against the race
and, secondly, to the rum-holes kept by blacks
and few by whitez where negroes frequent
ed, gambled, drank, and qualified themselves
generally for generating strife and discord be-
tween them and the opposite race. BY request
Of the Major-who was a sensible man
Mayor Wilson then promised to withhold
liquor licenses from black applicants in the fu-
ture, as also from whites who sell to blacks.
On Tuesday night a negro named Scott made
application for liquor license, which, upon
Mayor Wilson making an explanation as above
set forth, was rejected. This Scott is respec-
table negro, esteemed by his own race and re-
spected by the whites but comes within the
rule established hy the power to which the
blacks look for protection, and we doubt not
he will consider the system adopted as bene.
fetal one to his race.
1t is a move in the right direction. Al
Iquor drank in inordinate quantities make
white men feel doubly important, it naturally
ncOQucoS d ike eueCI Ou tuc HcSTOi anu lilOu
ces him to estimate himself as being fully a.
good, if not superior, to the white man whom
he meets, and TO openly and publicly assert th'
faith that is in him, thus provoking difficulty
if not a summary flagelation The blacks cal
get along without the aid Of firc-water, and
they religiously adhere to the now order o
things they will experience an improved con
dtion of affairs. If not, they can rest assureo
there is civil power here which will compe
them to travel ip tho bounds laid down 10
the observance of whites and blacks alike.
To the infamous mischief-makers who hav'
endeavored to stir up strife, and to induce th
government authorities to send negro troop
here TO awe and intimidate our white citizens
VIC would say, they have failed in their nefil
rious designs, aud Cairo will not be so cursed
There Is 20 necessity for troops here, eithe
white Or black, to enforce civil law, and wer
they, the notwithstanding whites, who f;,lsel
claim to be the friends oi the negro, to leav
Cairo, the whites and blacks left would ex
perencs no difficulty in living together peace
ably aud quietly.
A UCTION SALES.