The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1883-06-06
BILL ARP ON THE NEGRO.
He Discusses Races and Human
Nature

Nature,
Atlanta Constitutions
Some thirty years ago there was a dog
matte old squire in the 18th district of
this, Cass county, whose name was Jim
McGinnis. He had plenty Of what was
called good horse sense, a determined
will and abundance of prejudice. He
run the J. T. machine in that district
about twenty years and his final iudg-
ment in case was the law of the settle
ment. Nobody dared to appeal or carry
the case up for fear of offending him
and losing the next case they had in his
court. One time Teller sued another
Teller for the hire of negro. Judge
Parrot was on one side and Colonel AIDA
johnson was on the other, and when the
judge began to read his law from Green
leaf on evidence, Colonel johnson
| stopped him and made a point saying
that Mr.. Grecnleaf was very smart
man, and had writ power of good law
but that he was yankee and lived in
Boston, and knew no more about hiring
niggers than heather about Sunday
The old squire asked for the book, and
looking over the title page saw that it
was printed i'll Boston, and so he ruled it
out of his court, and Parrot lost his case
The squire said that Mr. Grecnleaf lived
a little too fur off to be familiar with the
business.
I've seen a good many pieces of late
about the negro and the great Southern
problem. The people up North begin
to admit that they can't see through it.
Ever since the war they have been
telling us what to do with the darkies
and they have been watching us to see
whether we did it or not, and they actu-
ally think we would put 'cm back into
slavery if we could. They are earnest
about this business, | reckon, for some
OF en- die and leave a whole passel of
money for the poor niger and I'm glad
OF 1t. wish that more of 'cm would
die and do the same thing, but what
rise to remark is this: They know no
more about the niger than Mr.. Green
leaf did and their Judgment amt worth
cent wouldn't give farthing for
any mans Judgment about darkies
who hadn't been born and raised with
EN- and owned 'em. 1t takes a lone
time to learn the traits and instincts of
race of people, The Yankee never will
know what the niger is, for he never
knew INN III state of slavery. The
Yankees who came out South. fifty wears
ago and domiciled with us. know ALI
about him, and will take their opinion
but when ] hear these modern ones NH.
losophizing and debating about him in
a consequential manner, unconsciouslv
raise my foot to kick somebody. There
are lots OF folks up there about Boston
VINO are looking over their spectacles at
us, and didn't know they had Tews-
bury almhouse, If they would lower
thelr sights they would have power of
work to do at home.
I've got no pathetic sentiments about
the niger. The yankees passed whole
lot OF amendments to the Constitution
to put him Oh an equal footing with us
socially and every other way and tbev
were the first to break EN-. Nature
ilNed her own laws and we have TO ron.
form to them. If the Indians had been
down here in place Of the Niger the
Whole Yankee nation would have been
their friends, but now thew nre tbc;r
enemies and keep driving them further
ana further into the wilderness and
cheating EN- out of all the Government
gives to EN-, We have rot ia study
races Just like we do horses and cattln
ne Anglo Saxon has got his traits and
instincts and so have the Indian and the
niger, and the heather Chinee, We
cuss and discuss the jew and the Italian
ana the Irish, and why shouldn't wr
consider the niger with the same NH
losophy. Some folks seem to think NO
owe nm a good deal because he didn't
cur up and rip around during the war
put don't. He didn't care anvtb;ng
ABOUT 1t, and he don't care now II s
not his nature. He had little rather
nave master than not to have him, and
the truth IS most of EN- have got 'em
ana they always will have EN-. We are
tired OF all this nonsense about slavery
Mr' Natterson, OF the Courier Journal
says at was foul blot" and I've baI
less respect for Mr.. Watterson since ba
SAID 1t for he knew better. II wos M
dot IT was nature. There arc \ heon
OF people now in the South who look
upon slavery like it was Achan's WEDGE
OF gold and persisted under the con.
demnation of God and man. Int i
dont want anybody to teach nv |
children any such ISLANDERS. for I |
know 1t was in the main humane inst;. |
tuition, and If the negro is any better off
now than he used to be / can't see. The |