New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-01-07
Az AppkAL FROM SOUTHERN CHITALRT.


Tho latest story Of insults and brtalities in
nc'cd by eXponcntS OF Southern chiyalry IN
lchalf OF white supremacy in North Carolina
presents at least one novel feature The wrongs
to which the Rev Mr.. Joiner has been sub
iccied because Of his faithful endcayors to
elevate and Chris'iauizc the members Of a
negro mission are not likely 20 produce an I'M
Wontcd impression by reason of the fact that
he i, a white man and a Clergyman such in
cidtntS of birth and vocation have commonly
been regarded az the south rs special quaIihca
tons for maryrdom, and the North Will find
nothing novel and startling in the ease SO far
a, these elements are concerned. But there
is one circumstance which, while 1t may not
be an aegrayaiion in the sight of Heaven, does
somewhat compiicatc the matter ia the eyes of
men The Roy Mr. Joiner is not merely "a
Caucasian and minister OF tho Gospel but
also British subject. and he has asked the
British Minister at Washington to take IN,
dcprivaiiouS and injuries into consideration.
This appeal was not made with unnecessary
and indccor0us haste, but only after repeated
efforts TO obtain redress and protection from
the local authorities had failed. Whatever re
ply Sir Julian Paunccfote may feel constrained
to make, he will not be apt TO regard Mr. join
crs rcmOnStrancc as an intrusion, nor will
Americans generally complain OF its spirit or
substance. 1t is very much the sort of doe
ument which citizens Of tho United States iv-
ing peaceably and lawfully in England would
be apt to address TO the American Minister in
London under similar provocatiOn, and to which
not only they but their fellow cOuntrymen
everywhere would expect a prompt and re
Spcctful answer. Tho misconduct alleged
against Mr. Joiner by his white neighbors
people in the civilized world as Of so hcnouS
4 character as to justify a resort to violent
means Of suppression. II consisted in preach
ing the gospel OF Jesus Christ To community
of poor men and women who were ANXIOUS 10
be instructed and helped and made better.
Even if the acceptance of this task assigned to
him by his Bishop made Mr.. Joiner an i'm
postor" and grovelling humiliator' of his
race, and rendered his conduct intolerablc'
TO the arStocracy OF Randolph County, y. c.,
it may be humbly doubted whether it was quite
in accordance with the canOnS Of chivalry 10
shoot Mrs Joiner, and then supplement bad
~
not pretend to be infinitely familiar with the
delicate details Of the Southern Code, and if
discipline cannot bc honOmbly and artiStically
administered 10 a clergyman without Simula-
ncouS matrcatment Of his wife we must apollo
gizc for our ignorance. We would not wilfully
misrcprcscnt an institution which is the dear
and honored manStay Of Southern cyiliza-
ton.
II is said that the Government, at tho time
when II rccompcnScd certain injuries inflicted
on Chinese subjects in the Northwest, declined
to regard that settlement rs IA precedent. 1t
remains to be seen whether the English Min
lister will consider statement of that rcServa-
ton a satisfactory answer to Mr.. Joincr's APP
peal II he should be reminded of the deli
cate balance conStitutionally maintained be-
tween the Union and its component parts he
might feel impclled to reply that he was not