Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-09-18
THE ANTAGONISTIC RACES.
A Distinguished MissisSiPPian's Pro-
test Against the White LeRguerS.


Fx-Goy. 4. G.. Brown, of Mississippi,
'.whose honest hear" the Jackson Clarion
saws, ..never had pulsation which was not
for his State has taken eSnest ground
against the popular Democratic movement
for organization OF white leagues. He says:
when this subject first came 10 the sur
face l was inclined to pooh pooh
It. 1t seems to me absolutely alb
surd. in view Of all our surround
inc, that we could for moment entertain
any such proposition. Gentlemen in the
State and ont Of it whose judgment L felt
bound to respect, embrace and very earnest
ly advocate the theory. Then l felt it a
duty to review my own, perhaps, hasty con-
clusion, and see if il were not probable
that was wrong. The result is a very
pointed and conclusive conviction on my
own mind that the idea Of white leagues is
all wrong and must, if carried ont, end in
the most disastrous consequences to both
races. However brought about, the
Constitution as il is written. has
equal political and civil rights with the
white man. The socialquestiOn IS another
matter, and that / would undertake to say
no human law e7er has or ever can regu-
llIE. lpQL 10 lllE ltDllAl. si4dlA l4ANt
/ leagues, and, if so, what then? 1t seems TO
me that we shall, in retaliation, have black
leagues. Then what? The two races are
brought face to face. VIII, in such a con-
test, all the whites stand on our side and
| all the blacks on the other? Not bit Of
it. We have a painful experience that a
large number of whites from motives or
| reasons of their own, will take sides
with the blacks. What has been once
done. we have reason to suppose, may
be done again. 1t may be all well enough
taking a purely selfish view OF the subject,
| for communities, where the whites predOm-
mate. to get up white leagues. But what
becomes of communities where the black
element prevails? Does it take a man
yery deeply learned in laws of human ma
ture TO understand that if the whites,
when they are in the majority, combine to
take possessiOn of the Government, the
blacks where they are in majority, will
combine for a like purpose? This sort Of
combination points to but one end and that
Is a war of races. In a contest between the
races il cannot be doubtful who
wouId come off cOnquerOrs. But who
/ wants such a contest There Is mutual
dependence between the races which, once
| recognized III EODu AdllAlS AluSb AOesN ~ A4''F
DIV results. But ignored, 40 man, not en-
dowed with supernatural gifts, can pretend
| to tell the consequences. Ideas crowd on
my mind in this connection, but l feel ad-
monished l must not treSpaSs on your pa
thence. One idea, prominently ses forth
| by the white leagues, feel it a duty TO
| combat, and that is that the whites have
| constantly held out their hand Of fellow
1 ship 10 the blacks. In its entirety,
| deny the proposition. That a vast ma
| iority of the whites have been SIN
cere in their professions, ] am quite
ready To admit. But that there has been
/ at all times a minority not willing TO adj
nit the negrO's clearly defined aud we'll
| understood constitutional rights. there can
be no question. II is the duty Of the ma
| iorlty To make its authority felt. The
| minority may be more noisy, and therefore
| mischievous, but to the majority belongs
the right to rule. Whatever people may
saw, and however popular assemblages may
resolve. have an abiding confidence that
the negro can vet be made to understand
that his interests are identical with those of
the Southern white man, and when be
| comes 10 understand that, he will think
with the white men of the South, act with
them and vote with them"