The Somerset reporter., 1890-07-10
Drink and the Race Conflict.

The frequently recurring outbreaks Of
Vince during the past few months in
various localities in the Southern States,
between the negroes and the white peo-
pie, resulting In some cases In loss Of life
and In much Ill feeling have suficed 70
give increased prominence TO the import
ant race problem. Ii has recently called
forth several significant speeches by we'll
known Senators Of widely different opip-
ions in the United States Senate, and Al
so many and varied comments in the
press of the country. No thoughtful cit
zen can fail 10 be impressed with the
gravity and importasce of the subject,
Looking down the future, 1t involves
largely not alone the colored people, but
the peace and prosperity of all classes
and both races.
We have long felt and urged that
strong drink is most important factor
Of this confessedly difficult problem.
IL Is especially noteworthy that frequent
ly these later troubles have begun With,
or have been greatly aggravated by,
drunken negroes or drunken white men or
it may be both, thus precipitated in dead
ly conflict, finally involving many Others
wholly innocent Of onense.
Slavery left, as its unhappy and danger
perpetuated it, dense ignorance and ap-
pallng moral degradation on the part Of
the masses of pegroes formally slaves or
the descendants Of slaves. This igno-
rance and degradation extended also to
| many of the poorer whites, upon whom
| Dy contact herewith slavery exsrted its
| oanef full influence. Much Christian miss
ionary and educational work In the needy
| Southern field has helped greatly to i'm
! prove the situation and in some respects
| TO lessen the perils Of race AntAgonism.
| But In no particular has educational help
oesn more needed than with reference TO
the wisdom and duty of abstinence from
strong drink. In no respect has 1t been
as inadequstely provided for. OF temper
ance education the colored people ut the
time of their emancipation had literally
had none. As slaves they had been sub
ject 10 the masters restraint As class
they were not allowed indulgence In in
toxicants, save possibly under surveil-
lance on some holiday and festive occa-
sions. Suddenly feeet from this re-
straint, and thrown upon their own re-
scources, with as little preparation e
children for intelligent self-control, many
soon fell an easy prey to designing poll.
teal demsgogues who were ready to ply
them with strong drink, thus to secure q
blind politicical following among them.
Under these conditions very grave abus-
es and complications were inevitable, and
in many instances locally the situation
became desperate
!, Meanwhile yourg men of new genera
ton, with some general education, are
coming to the front. There are already
indications that they will be less docile,
, less readily submissive than their slave
fathers. Under these altered conditions
temperance education, as social safe
guard, becomes imperative. 1t ia the
drunken combatsnt who precipitates
, what easily becomes riot and ends In Z
r massacre. Whatever else may be need
full to minimize the perils of 4 race con-
. dict, total-abstinence teaching and efforts
, to suppress the lc1or traffic among the
: colored people cannot longer be neglect,
ed with impunity.
The National Temperance Society,
$ Through its Southern missionaries knd BY
= the dissemination of its Literature, is do
l ing what 1t can 10 meet this urgent educa
r ,ional need. Its efforts in this directioF
e are. however, greatly circumscribed foi
want of means Competent missionaries
await the service whose unavoidable ex
penses In the prosecution of the work il
has not the money to pay. 1t makes rel
atiwely large grants of literature which il
: eagerly taken and read but 1t cannot be
: nin to meet the numerous calls for it
4 Those blessed with the means to give
: cannot bsstow more wisely their contri
!. buttons than To send them to the Nation
Il al Temperance Society in aid of Its i'm
4 portant snd needy Southern work. Will
h intelligence, moral elevation, industry
and economy on the part of the coloret
people sae danger of race conhic
( will disappear. The basis of all thi
II must needs be sobriety. The Ndttond
T,e,tt s+.fu.. a fsg.-lff.