The Indianapolis journal., 1889-09-13
The Impending Storm.

Ine Impending StOrms
To the Editor Of the Indianapolis Journal:
No intelligent man can contemplate cur
rent events in the South without seeing in
them the forebOdings of most fearful
storm. 1t is probably too late now to pre-
vent it. There is already a madness in the
elements that cannot be stilled until they
have spent their force. Perhaps in no other
way than in the sea of blood, which now
seems inevitable, could the question at is
sue be settled. Some questions yield only
to the logic of blood. Such was the slavery
question. 1t might have been settled on
the basis of moral and political right. but
at least one of the parties to the controversy
persistently refused to listen to any sugges-
tions of right, but madly rushed into the
arena of blood. The result is known. And
now comes the race question. Not in the
fabric of our government alone is the
equality of all men recognized, but
far back of that lies the unalter-
able principle which must. in all
cases, sooner or later assert itself; but
indiscreet men in the South have deter
mined to defy this doctrine and to reduce
the colored man to q worse condition than
slavery, or exterminate him. For while
this purpose was so held in allegiance that
hopes were entertained that the better an
gels of our. nature would assert their SUI
premacy, and that with time and education
the end would be reached without the
further shedding of blood; but the recent
outbreaks of rude men of the baser sort. un-
rebuked by better men, show too clearly
that the end can be reached only by the
recognition of equal rights in all things.
and that Is not now likely to be reached
until one race or the other, or both. have Q
suffered from the bloody conflict. That
the colored race can live in this country on
any other terms than absolute slav-
cry, or absolute equality before the law, no
sane man can imagine; that they can be re-
turned to slavery no man thinks possible.
The scene at the Second Baptist Church
MANNED victims of most heartless, yet
characteristic, cruelty were presented, beg
gars description, but there can he no mis-
taking the lesson it teaches. These men
are colored, but they areifreemen, and some
of them are well educated; all off them are
earnest and manly. There was but one
sentiment expressed, batting the apologetic
utterances of few who fear for their lives
on their return to the land of blood. There
|. was pathos that was touching when ref
ored man to the helpless ones in the time of
the war. and the return they are now re-
ceiving at the hands of their beneticiaries.
But whom the sentiment was ex-
prtoStu bnat JucIe cOulu DC nO
safety from bloody assassins until in
these assassinations as many white men bit
the dust as inOffensive negroes, the ap-
plause showed the trend of negro thought.
1t has been twenty-five years rea ching this
in less than another twenty-five the threat
ened condition will have been reached. un-
less some power is invoked not now exer-
cised.
i do not hesitate to say that that power
exists in the general government. If il
does not, it is the merest rope of sand. To
claim that the Nation has the right to pro-
tect her citizens, native OF naturalized, in
any other land under the sun than our own
land. is an absurdity. That we have never
exercised this power is no proof that il
does not exist. 1t is essential to national
| life. Will it be exerted. or shall the alter.
native come? Every American citizen must
be the equal of every other American citi.
zen. u. l.. SEE.
INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. IL.