Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1883-12-04
The Danville Riot.

The New York Times of Monday publish
es long and talerably fair statement of the
disturbance at Danville on the third Of No
vember. The report as furnished by a
special correspondent, embodies the whole
of the paper signed by the citizens, reciting
the hardships of their situation under Ma
hone-negro rule; some extracts from the in
famous incendiary speech Of Sims, which
provoked the riot, and gives some of the
testimony on both sides, elected at the re-
cent investigation. We have no right to
complain of, but rather commend Northern
journals that take the pains to get the facts
upon which people who wish to know the
truth can make up an honest Judgment.
This is all we want, and not less than we
are entitled to. The Times, commenting
on the letter and the facts says:
''But this affray does unquestionably in
dictate very dangerous condition of affairs
in the city of Danville. If the circular is
sued by certain citizens describing the state
into which the government of the city has
been brought by the rule of the Coalition
or Readjusters and negroes is true, the so
ciaI and political situation is one that must
be ,ccll-nigh intolerable to the tohites; and
some portions of the same circular, with
the evidence furnished by the deplorable
.
on the part of the whites that is incompati-
BILE with peace and good order in the city"
Our esteemed contemporary is mistaken
in supposing that the "spirit and feeling of
the whites" Gift means the respectable
white people of Danville), els incompatible
with peace and good order in the CITY,"
Their condition, under Mahone-negro rule,
was, as it truly says, "well-nigh intolera-
ble;" but as that has been broken and the
normal condition of things restored, there
is no reason to apprehend any further trou-
BILE. Sims, and all such,,agitators have been
taught wholesome lesson in the result of
the recent election, and there will be no
more such incendiary speeches made in
Danvilie, we venture to say, for length of
time to come.
The negroes will settle down now, con-
WINGED that the best policy for them is to
court the friendship of their employers, the
property holders and respectable citizens,
and leave severely alone, the white men
who, bankrupt in fortune and il character,
would use them simply as a means of climb
ing to power. That is the highest wisdom
for all colored men who want peace, and
prosperity, under good government admin
istered by those who have the intelligence
requisite to govern, and vital interest in
maintaining the supremacy of the laws.
There never would have been any trouble
with the negroes of Virginia if they had
been left to themselves; and it was only
through ''the mahgn influence of North
ern carpet baggers, first; and the still more
''malign influence of such loathsome DEM
agogues and self-seekers as Malone, Sims,
ct I'd Onne genus, who saw in the ignorance
of these people an opportunity to turn race
prejudice to good account, in banding the
negroes under their direction, and for their
personal advantage, against the respectable
white elem ent of the State. Negro suffrage,
without qualification of any kind, has had
a fearful tendency to foster the growth Of
agrarianism and every other form of dema-
gogism in the South; and Northern men
and Republicans, now resident among us,
have not been slow to acknowledge the ter
rible blnnder that was made in the enfran-
chisement of this race so long before they
had received the slightest preparation for
the exercise of the great boon of suffrage.
1t only remains for us, in the way of pre-
venting untold mischief to the cause of good
government, to keep these people, as much
as possible, out of the hands of the white
demagogues, and their native leaders, and
to convince them, if we can, that there is
no necessary antagonism of races, and that
we will protect and defend their real inter-
ests and promote their welfare to the ex-
tent of our ability-Lynchburg Tirginian.