Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-05-14
Law IN THE SOUTH.

49, &AN 49, wv
The New York Tribune says: THE
Southern press is unanimous in con
demniug the Mississippi outrage as q
disgrace to the Stale and to the whole
section; no attempt to palliate it has
come to hand" 1t might be added that
the Southern press condemns lawlessness
and unnecessary blosdshed wherever
found and at all times. An attempt has
been made to make political capital, or
rather prejudice, out of this Kemp'r
county affair in Mississippi. Yet meth.
lug that has come to hand justifes
such a construction; an old neighbsr-
hood fued, resulted in q terrible tragedy
If the same thing had happened ii
Pennsylvania it would have been set
down by our Republican brethren Of the
North as being an isolated case, illustrai-
ing the occasional tendencies Of human
nature to total %deprayity. II would be
IS fair to attribute the atrocities Of the
Bender family in Kansas to Western
civilization as to hold Southern society
responsible for the Kemper county mul-
ders. 1t has been so fashionable AID
popular 70 treat the South exceptionally
as if settled by o distinct race Of people
that when any violation Of law takes
place down this way the Northern jour
nails say in effect: "0f course; that il
the South, That's the way they always
do down there, where loyal men carry
their lives in their hands The victim
of feud aud violence is ~canonized as q
Union man who died for his faith,
and the murderer painted as a rep.
resentative Of Southern chivalry. At
the ceAters of civilization there
are people who read both sides, who have
travelled and mingled with the world and
know a Misrepresentation when they see
it. But with the rural masses it is differ
ent. They rarely 60 beyond the nearest
depot or eounty.seat, read weekly papers
of the ultra stripe, and have steadily
grown in the belief since they could read
a Sanday-school book that Southern PEG
pie are blood-thirsty barbarians who 60
armed to the teeth, ready TO shoot down
a neighbor or a stranger at the slightest
provocation. There is no way on earth
to reach these people except through the
liberal Republican press of the North
Southern papers are not taken at the
North, and Democratic papers there are
not believed when they state the truth ii
regard TO Southern people. They will
not come down to see, for the capitalist
is 100 timid, and the poor mar ia the
Eastern States, d~esireus Of making a
change for TIE better, goes West aud
carries his ideas and preiudices with
him. 1t viii take generations to eradt
cate the false teachings Of the last forty
years. But practically the worst effects
may be overcome in few years. la the
first place it is due to ourselves and
whatever true friends we may have in
the North TO enforce the laws strictly
and impartially without regard to color
race, birthplace or condition. The fall
protection of the law should be guar
auteed to all ia the future as 10
the past where we have had control
The truth and the right will prevail
at last. Life aud property are IS
safe in Mississippi and Tennessee and
Georgia under Democratic rale as in
Ohio, Ihdiaua, or Kansas when all things
are considered. OF course some al.
lowanee must be made for q large class
lately enlranchised, who have not learn.
ed, and perhaps never will, that there Is
any moral wrong in thslt, lewdness and
la2iness. The further South we 90 the
worse this is. The laws Of nature can.
not be reversed, but the laws OF the land
can be enforced, as they axe in every
Southern State where the white element
hasthe~ ascendaucy. Therefore, we hope
chat it will in time cease to be a matter
OF surprise or special remark that the
Southern press condemns any and all
ouirages.