New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-03-17
THE CONFLICT OF RACES.
SOCIAL PREJUDICEs I'M MISSISSIPPI.


DESTROYS OF MORE MONEY AND HISS POLITICS
PROPERTY IN MISSISSIPPI.
lFRoM A SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRBrNEl
JACKSON, Miss Feb. 2S.-When we ran of the
track in the woods at l o'clock iii the morning.
away down in dc Alabam'," l thought the pros
pect rather dreary But it proved one of the most
interesting nights of my journey thus far When
it was announced that we could not 90 on before
daylight, the people in my began to talk.
negro came in and was recognized by two gentle
men as having formerly belonged to some one whom
they knew, and they babe him sit down and give
an account of himself for the long time that had
passed since their last meeting They were all
evidently gad to see each other, and the whole con
vcrsatiOn which ensuod evuced reciprocal regard
and respect. One gentleman was a merchant from
Nashvlllc the other understood to be physician
from Mississippi. Both showed good manners,
wide information. and much interest IN public
affairs. They appeared to be men of high char
actcr, energetic practical business men. They were
Democrats the negro q Republican. They soon
launched broadly into discussion Of the whole
question of the character. capabilities and interests
of the negro in this country and of the various
problems growing ont of tho relations between the
negroes and the white rcope. There the Mt
most courtesy both sides. but was astonshcd
at the ability and the boldncss of the negro. He
der and fault of the party in power in Alabama for
many years past, and every instance of iniustico
inflicted upon people Of his race Several times the
gentlemen thought him in error regarding matters
OF fact but he took pOnderOuS memorandum book
out of his pocket, filed with newspaper crttings,
notes and references and showed in each case that
he knew what be was talking about. For more
than two hours there such an exhibition Of
argument, wit apt reply aud incisivc TePartce as
have rarely heard anywhere. There was great
fairness aud entire good humOr on both sides The
two gentlemen were evidently delighted With tho
ability shown by their antagonist and when lac
was too much for them they" Owned II? ~ heartily
And he was nearly always too strong for them.
He had cyidcntly given most of the points dis
cusscd far more attention than they. have
scarcely ever heard his readiness of reply cquallcl
Both his opponents together were no match for
him. As thtY concluded, be said: Gentlemen. We
give You notice that intend to have orr rights
all that the law gives us. and that We are going to
fight TOR thcm--nOt with our hands, but with our
mouths and our hrains-tll we obtain Them
Sooner or later we SHAH have them. and YOU might
| as well understand ii first as last
Both gentlemen said That's tight We don't
blame YOU. We like yOIr split. OF course we
would do the same i'll your place Then one added
and the other expressed hearty assent and APP
1 !
| table with a nigel" The negro laughed, and
tainted them with the far more intimate relations
which white men frequently form With negro girls.
| 4 NsGfos WoEk FOR n;s RACE.
| All this talk was open and public. There were no
ladies in the car, and the lrn gathered around 10
hear The ncgro's account Of the condition oi his
| own race was very depressing. ana he rvid"i'tir
felt that the chief obstacles in the way OF thor
advancement are TO he found, not III the opposition
or Injustice Of the white people, but III the low
| oualitirs and tendencies Of the negroes He did
not scent to br hopeful, but full Of spirit. and
| resolved to make a gallant fight Tor the improve
mcnt of his people. Whatever the odds against him
In the course of the talk he described his efforts to
| put down vice and disorder among the cnlaIcd
| proplc in the town whore he lived. He lad OH Il
| certain OCCASION oTganiZcd aud supcrv picnlc
| for hs own people, and when some vicious cOoIrd
girls mad ntrndcd hr forcihY expelled them from
| the grounds. They made q charge OF assault aud
battery against him. and the affair cost him $3.50.
He confessed that he had violated the la" Ia S'N-
ING and kicking those dIsorlcrly women, hut he had
| done 50 in protecting his own wife and dau"htrls
and otl,rr colored women from Insult and violence
| He thourlt that d;sordcg!y and Icentous white
men rcitcd the laser class Of the negroes to lnYad"
| and di,,nrb his picnic AMI that even the good
| white people did not give him any sympathy or
moral support in his efforts to MAINTAIN ord'r ana
| snprrcy, wee among the c0ior,d people, SAID he
| "Grntl,ncn YOU do not care if are degraded,
Int IT'S bad for you too, # the negro Is a brute.
| His couprrhcnsOn Of the subtle bonds that uhi''
| men in their moral destiny. and make tie SIons
| and fortunate in some ways dependent npon the
| fate Of the lowly, would nave delighted tn" hear:
If CARLYLE. He said "Ilrrc are three hundred
and sixty-two lewd coorcd girls IN my town. II
| shame and a 'ui'o LOT U.s. )" W." ''''" -
| nothin' Tor youT
| Tins ncoro seemed TO me- n born leader Of men.
| The men with whom he had been talking saId
| afterward that he had the reputation OF h'n- one
| of the best puhc speakers in the stat, ana thcy
| had no doubt it was deserved. lie seemed iailF
! alive to the fanlts and weaknesses of the nr@r"
| character and appeared almost hopeless III regard
TO the future of his race but lie love" S'rHr"!' "u
| conflict and will 10 doubt contend hraNrll I" tL'
end for what he regards as the rights OF his people
RACE p,scJI1HNr!pN.
| 7 had some talk aftcrward with his two friendly
| opponcnt4 They spoke Of him III torma OF adWiIa-
ton but said that il ahOtrl or theatre, or church
or any place OF entertainment amusement "r rnhI''
resort were conducted on the plan OF really nah na
no distinction on account Of color white person
| in tho Sonth would have anything to do with H.
| attend il. OF support il in any rav whatever.
think, from all that have srrt. ut this IL iruo
On most OF tho railroads tho nccr'> IRE expected
and told to take particular ear, AMI hoy usually
| do SO. But this does not appear 10 he strictly on
| forced Gndccd | cannot hc6 that anything IL don'
siy;cfiJ in tho South. W"il-drc>Scd negroes same
times rido here in tho same car with " hr"t class
vhi,o pcoplc, ladies aud gentlemen; am tlcr" nr'
USUALLY some white people, poor Whites or working
| folk in the negro car. In Norfolk. a. the c01rc'
people arc directed to . particular gallery or par
OF tho house ut all lectures and public entertain
ments. bmt do not think They ara forclhly pre-
vented from taking seats In the body of tho house
In Richmond, Va. at tho time OF my visit to thh