New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-09-14
THEIR
SOUTHERN
OUTRAGES

KEMEDI.
Quite an epidemic of outrages against
negroes seems to be sweeping across the Soutn.
In Mississippi a week or so ago several coloreu
people who had committed the crime OF joining
Farmers Alliances were murdered III colu
blood. At Baxley, Tenn, white 1oughs board
ed train containing party of peaceable COL
ored preachers and delegates to the BapuS1
Convention at indianapolis, beat them cruelty
and drove them from the cars. Near La fayette
in Louisiana there have been midnight Whlp-
nincs and asSass nations without the least APP
parent provocation. Still another case OF Vlo-
lence at East Point, in Georgia, has eHclted
indignant condemnation from the Southern
people themselves 1--WE cannot expect" says
Henry w. Grady in "The Atlanta Constltu-
tion y "and we shall not deserve the confidence
Of the North if such outIageS as the whipping
of those negroes at East Point go unre6uked
and unpublished. Worse than this, we cannot
hold our own self-reSpect."
The usual plea that the victims were over
meddlesome in politics cannot be sustained IN
any Of these cases. The political integrity
of the South, in whose name the worst atrocities
have been condoned, had been threatened
neither by Mrs. Garnett, who was beaten at
BaxIey by men armed with clubs and pieces OF
railroad iron, nor by RoSemOnd Cormlers help
less fifteen year old daughter who was brutal
" butchered at night in her fathers cabin near
La Fayette. Each Of these places 1t is true,
was remote from the large cities where CIVIL
lied and humane sentiments control the pop
uaton. Yet neither this nor the fact that
somewhat similar assaults have been perpetrat-
ed by ignorant and vicious rusticS in outlying
districts of Indiana can lessen the c1iminality
Of those concerned, or remove their response
bihty for lawlcssness Of a peculiarly cOwardly
and deSpicable kind.
The desperation to which the negroes are
gOaded by these assaults has been made pain~
fully apparent. At the indianapolis Conven-
ton the opinion was expressed that the only
way the colored man can save himself from
being kicked to death is to kick back" Charles
II. J. Taylor, ex-United States Minister to
Liberia, has appealed to Governor Gordon for
protection for his race, and similar petition
is to be addressed to the President. day Of
fasting and prayer, when the colorcd people
aye expected to assemble at their churches and
ask deliverance from hate, violence and
death" has been appointed. In Northeastern
Mississippi instruction is said to be shoulder
ing, and Senators Walthall and George have
found it necessary to warn the white people of
the delta not to be hasty or violent in dealing
with the other race.
These facts prove If they prove anything,
that the Southern problem is still as serious as
ever But it is a hopeful sign that among
even the most conservative of the better class
of whites the theory is no longer comtenanced
that the Negroes presence on earth is crime.
To whatever measures the morbid dread Of
race ascendancy may impel them, they are no
longer inclined to tolerate a continuance Of the
crimes against humanity which have defaced
their history in the past. As to the negroes,
they have clearly nothing to gain by policy
of aggression or repiisal. Earnest systematic
opposition by the whites themselves to the
spirit of lawleSsness which Stirs up new hate
and infames old prejudice will do more toward
the ultimate adjustment Of their grievances
than any other remedy that can be devised.