The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-01-05
prominent citizens, seeing this, induced the
Maridian MAJ 10 rafnrn hoIna

prominent citizens, seeing this, induced the
Meridian men to return home.
1t was the Wednesday evening following
the Sunday battle that the friends of the
dead men organized TO scour the county.
Three days had passed by; the county was.
the scene of blood; the whole Union was
thrilled with horror at the impending ca
lamity in kemper; people in all parts OF
Mississippi We're concerned for the safety or
their brethren. and yet Sheriff Key was
pany of armed men, booted and spurred,
laden down with shotgnns and revolyers,
dividing of into platOOns 10 sc0ur the coun-
try with hostile intent, all without law or
the presence of the sheriff. who was qulel.y
receiving the taxes in DeKalb. -
The story of that ride over the coun y -
VIII take the grandjury tounravel. Vaughn
and Hare were prominent as leaders. They
went out bound TO secrecy. and they are
yet under that obligation. Many negroes
are missing, and when an absentee 10
named the suggestion Is made that he
has probably gone to Arkansas What
peculiar meaning that phrase has it is
hard to determine. One of the
bOrhood in which George Maury lived ar
rested several negroes. On the return it
was suggested that it would be well TO have
the negroes under guard in an old house
called the white house. Five hard-looking
cases were left In charge of the party.
Thursday morning the guard appeared in
Wahalak without their prisoners
They escaped said the leader. II
reckon they're whar they'll do us no moro
harm, and you mOut as well scratch their
names Oft the list. They won't come back
here soOn."
How many more have gone the same road
1t Is hard to say, but there is plenty of room
Tor conjecture" Every one OF the thirteen
suspected men will be killed if caught"
said citizen who knew all the parties con-
cerned. George Maury, VIII Martin and
walter Crook are among the three who. it
is significantly stated. have ..gone TO Ar
kansas" Their cabins have been burned,
and dessolation reigns where they lately
lived.
Will there be race war in Mississippi
That question is suggested by the above re-
cital. There is no reason why there should
be. The negroes are as dOcile as ever. They
are comparatively contented. Whatever
lll-feellng exists springs from purely local
and personal causes. There is 20 friction
whatever between the races. But still a
race war might be easily brought about.
unless the white people of Mississippi take
prompt action to prevent it. The preven-
ton must come in the shape of curb upon
the debased elements of the white popUla-
ton, among whom the antipathy to the ne
gro is the greatest. Public opinion must be
so concenfered as to forbid such incidents
as that of Wahalak. 1t is unfortunate for
Mississippi that she has no great city from
which influences might radiate, and that
no great newspaper Is puDilShcd WITHIN
her borders to read the riot act 10 irresp0n-
sible men who would endanger the peace of
the State. Mississippi is an exclusively ag-
ricultural State, with small cities located
at long range from each other, and with no
railroad center. As result her interests
are scattered, her people are not ac-
quainted with each other, and there is not
that unity of purpose and execution which
are to be found in State where people
meet more freely and have better means of
communication. The politicians are equal
ly as strange with each other as are the peo-
pie. The circulation of the papers is con-
fined TO the adjoining counties TO the ones
in which they are published. With the
people. the press, the population centers.
the railroads and the postal system thus
scattered there is confusion which gives
good play for local canards. Then the feel
ing prevails that the good name of the
State requires the suppression, as far as
possible, of the publication of such events
as have taken place the last three weeks.
/ have not met a single citizen who ap-
proves of the conduct of the Wahalak raid
ers, now that they have the facts in the
case, nor one that will lift finger to bring
that George Maury had the right TO defend
his home against party of vigilantes. and
that the killing of the negro prisoners at
the white house, was but brutal murder.
But, if the courts do no better than the
sheriff, the people of Kemper county must
be prepared for criticism.