Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-09-23
AFFAIRS AT TRENTON.
How the Trenton Gazette Regards
Dempbis Newspapers aud MEM
pitts Indignation meetings.


phis Indignation Meetings.
The Trenton Gazette'of the 18th, pub
fishes the following blood-and.thunder
piece of Ku. Klux literature:
Some fifteen or twenty men, charged
with Ku-Kluxing, and for whose arrest
warrants we're out, came into town
Wednesday and gave bonds in the sum
of $4,000 each Tor their appearance at
the next term of the Circuit Court. II
is said that capiases for about seventy
men we're issued on the testimony OF
one of the party who was in the raid on
the Jail, and who turned State evidence
It is also reported that reward Of
$40 900 was offered to the one who would
turn States evidence.
A large Sheriff s posse, made up from
the Trenton City Guards, went out with
Sheriff Arnold last Tuesday night to
arrest parties for whom capisses had
been issued. They did not succeed in
making any arrests. The next morning
the parties voluntarily came to town and
surrendered and gave bonds. The Mem
phis papers can now conscientiously
break their season of fasting and prayer,
and should at once appoint a day oil
thanksgiving. They can also, if they
are of the opinion that white man is az
good as a negro, now call an "indigna
ton meeting" and res0lUe that rewards
should be offered for the balance of the
gang of armed negroes who took the Law
in their han Is at Picketville and at
tempted without cause to assassinate
Morgan and Warren. Or do they con
slider it their sacred duty as guardians o.
Gibson county to denounce such out
RACES on the part of drunken, riotou'
negroes? These papers have had time
to cool down and TO recognize the fact
that the laws are and will be in force
and enforced in this county, and always
have been, but without warning were IN
able 10 prevent the occurrence of the
deed that has caused so much sheetiron
thunder from these iron-clad sheets
lust as Memphis with her boosted police
force was unable Tor failed) TO prevent
the outrage upon the Durant family 10
the suburbs Of Memphis by gang Of
negroes-and that, too, with the knowl.
edge that those negroes were constantly
engaged in similar acts.
The citizens of Gibson county knew
that Memphis, weak and helpless, could
not prevent such lawless deeds; anC
that's the reason why they have held nc
indignation meetings, nor declared
that THE village of Memphis has suffer
ed a fouIblot TO tarnish her name thai
will take years to wipe out" But theT
will these papers tell us the difference
between lawlessness by blacks and law
lessness by whites2 and will they also
tell us why Gibson county is expected tC
prevent midnight raids, while Memphis
cannot or does not do sol Now, we d.
not ask these questions to offend, bu
I'VE rise for information" from th,
great and good. Tell us how the jai
breaking could have been prevented
then the blame be upon us, should /
ever occur again.
The Appeal Of Tuesday says it is gla'
to see that this paper has modified II
spirit etc. We wish to say to the Ap
peal that this paper has nothing t
modify, never having said anything o
which we are ashamed; but have il
common with the citizens of the count,
regretted and denounced the deed. TIT
people and the civil officers Of tn
county have done what we said the.
would do-all in their power. They ar
law-abiding, denounce mob law on tn
part Of both whites and blacks, an,
while they have been indignant, we a.
proud Of the fact that they have no
made raving, blatant fools Of themselves
but have had full faith in the law an
its execution.