The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1874-08-26
The Conflicting Races at the South

The Ncw York Herald publishes tht
letters of Southern correspondents ane
editorials from Southern journals, il
which fears are expressed of confiic
of races at the South; and the opinion
is given that the anticipated passage O
the Civil Rights Bill has done much tt
arouse the antagonisms of race and tt
precipitate the issue. The Herald on
the contrary is disposed to regard the
recent outbreaks as mere brawls, and
the late fight at Austin, Mississippi, as
one which might have occurred any
where, where the law is loosely admin
istered. Perhaps the truth lies here as
elsewhere, between the extremes of two
opposing views, and whilst unnecessary
apprehensions are naturally excited
among those. who are spectators or ac'
tors amid the troubles, the extent OF
the danger is doubtless underestimated
by those who live at distance. Socie-
ty at the South is different from what it
is anywhere else, and the very fact that
two races so dissimilar in habits, feel
ings, and sympatbies, form part of the
same body polite, give significance to
trivial outbreaks, which in communl-
ties differently constituted would be
disregarded. Disguise it as we may,
there is no doubt that the great body of
the blacks at tho South regard their in
terests as antagonistic to that of the
white race, and that their safety depends
upon excluding the whites, their former
masters, from all political control.
These notions have been instilled into
their minds by political demagogues,
to serve their own selfish purposes, and
the antagonisms of race at the South
have been fomented in the interests of
a few designing men, who have made
the blacks the tools of their own ad-
vanccment. The sooner the minds OF
the blacks are tlisabused of these notions
the better it will be for both races, and
we believe that in spite of Civil Rights
Bills, and recent outbreaks, and the
teachings Of those whose interest it is to
foment strife, that the blacks are learn
ing the necessity of cultivating friendly
relations with the whites, and must in
the end see to what extent they have
been made the dupes of designing men.
Their leaders elsewhere and in this
State especially, are now men of their
own race, and these have the good
sense to see that conflict of races
would be ruinous to the black man. In
spite then of local troubles and section
al outbreaks, we cannot believe that
there is any serious danger of any ex-
tended conflict of races.
But the existence of honest govern
ment at the South, rs the Herald sug-
gests, can only be secured by the cordial
cooperation of both races. 1t is as
much to the interest of the blacks Us of
the whites to secure good government,
and sound policy dictates that laying
aside all fancied grivances, and ad-
dressing themselves earnestly to the
work of reform, they select only honest
and capable men for office. Antago-
nisms of race are only fomented by cor
rupt politicians who desire to advance
their own selfish purposes, whilst all
efficient and honest administration Of
the government can only be brought
about by cordial and Jealous co-opera-
ton Of both races in the work of reform.