Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-01-10
FRIDAY. JANUARY 10. 1890.
The Joiner Case.

AHc OOAiAtA OdSb'
The southern States arc recognized by
very few of the northern papers rs being
The equals of the northern States or as
having any rights which the world at large
IL bound TO respect. Chicago may be over
run with Anarchists and Communists, and
murders by the dozen may be committed
in that city, and not a northern paper or a
northern congressman will ever dream OF
calling tho State of Illinois TO account for
such a condition Of things, or Of demand
ing that the Federal Government shall in
terpose its strong arm between the citizens
of that State and the State itself. 1t is only
when crime is committed in the South
that the State IN which it is committed
IL arraigned at the bar of public opin-
ion, and reprimanded as an unruly child
might be reprimanded. or denounced as
the worst Of criminals might be denounced.
The northern people are firmly per-
suaded that they are better citizens than
the southern people. and seem always to
be ready 10 say to the latter, I'VE are
holier than YOU"
An instance of the kind TO which we al
iude is found in the New York Tribune,
which says:
THE most recent southern outrage is
described IN a letter written to Sir Julian
PauncefOTte, tho British Minister at wash
ington, by the Rev. Thomas Joiner, regu-
lar clergyman of the Methodist Episcopal
Church who happens to be a British sub
iect. Mr. Joiner was assigned last fall by
Bishop Joyce to q circuit which includes
Holly Springs, \. O., where he preached to
negro congregation. He was soon warned,
in genuine kuklux style, that this would
not be permitted. and as he did not heed
the warning his house was invaded by
armed men, aud he and his wife We're
brutally maltreated. Being unable TO get
any satisfaction in North Carolina, Mr..
Joiner has appealed TO the British Min
ister His British citizenship furnishes a
novel complication, which may lead TO H.
toresting results. When Sir Julian asks
an explanation of our Government what
answer viii be madei"
British citizenship imparts no peculiar
sacredness TO man. If he is indicted for
an offence against the peace and dignity of
the State in which he is soiOurning the
fact that he is not citizen Of the State
cannot be pleaded in bar Of the prosecu-
ton. He must answer just as II he We're a
citizen. So, if he outraGes the people
amongst whom he is sojourning, he cannot
expect any other treatment than citizen
would receive under like circumstances.
Mr. WEBSTER was one of the greatest
lawyers this country ever produced.
He went TO England few years
after Mississippi had repudiatod q
debt which was owing wholly or in part to
citizens of England The house of Barring
BRoTnRRs applied to Mr.. WEBSTER for a
formal opinion as to how the creditors
could proceed 60 enforce their clam
against Mississippi. or failing TO collect it,
what redress they would have? Mr.. WEE
srTR prepared an opinion. for which, by
tue way, he received thousand pounds
in which he set forth in luminous phrase
the dual nature of our system of govern
ment and gave the Barnes TO understand
that il would not be an easy matter
20 find any law under which the
British claim could be collected, nor
safe matter 10 undertake TO collect il
ut the point of the bayonet, seeing that
UNCLE SAM might consider it his duty to
throw his protecting shield around the
State of Mississippi. So when Sir Ju-
LIAM PAUNCEFoRTE asks an explanation of
our Government" i'll regard TO the treat
mont Of which Mr.. JoINER complains, Mr..
BLAINE can have no difficulty in making
out at least a plausible case for the State
Of North Carolina. which had nothing 10 do
with the wrongs alleged to have been done in
this case. We would not be afraid TO wager
a box of Catendish against a Maine pine
tree that Mr. BLAINE can satisfy the British
Government that it might be dangerous
TO cause the American eagle to scream in
this matter of JoISER as. North Carolina.
Are British incendiGries any better than
Hungarian or American incendiaries? May
Chicago hang a Hungarian and North
Carolina be prohibited from defending
herself from the worst sort of incendiaries?
Is white man who proves himself
traitor to his race and an enemy TO our
free institutions entitled TO any respect?
Has the United States Government
ever deemed it its duty to protect
such wrong-doers IA JOINER from the
punishment which a righteous Indignation
had caused the victims Of their Outrages
20 infict upon thomY What would be the
condition of South Carolina and Mississippi
II such men az JOINER were allowed at
pleasure to arouse the animosity of the
negroes against the whites?
All the laws that Congress could pass
would not suffice TO compel the southern
people to renounce the right of self-pro-
lection. And except for self-protection
they will never resort to the measures
which JOINER forced them to employ
AGAINST him