The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-01-01
ABBEVILLE. 8. @.
Wednesday, Jan. 1, 1890.
The Lynching in Barnwell.

Last Saturday morning masked men took
from the Barnwell Jail eight negro prisoners
tied them to trees, and then shot them 10
death.
These negro men were charged with the
murder of white men, and their lynching
NAV be set down as the result OF the race
prejudice.
Since the Republicans have been IN ONCE
at Washington, the negroes have oeen more
aggressive towards the whites, ana as q re-
suit, more negroes have already been siam III
the ten months of Harrson's rule, than were
killed during the whole term OF PRESIDENT
Cleveland.
Wherever any race has come in conflict
with the white man, the result mas Always
been the same, and 1t will be an evil day ior
the negro when he provokes conflict.
The negroes OF Barnwell had slain, at dill
ferent times, three white men, and TINS TACT
excited the demand for revenge, ana the
slayers of the white men, whether justifiable
or excusable before the law, suffered for their
act.
We do not pretend to say that the white
men, who were slain, were blameless. we
believe that II is rare thing for all the 1auit
to be on one side.
But no matter where the fault lay, the tax
ing of the prisoners from Jail and killing them
can only shock our sense of humanity ana
right, while it goes to furnish one more PROOF
that the negro has no safety except In peace
with his white nelghbors. The armies OF the
United States cannot protect him against MS
enraged white neighbors, and he should live
to himself or at least not be aggressive
against his white neighbors.
II the race prejudice is not excited, the
white man Of the South is friendly with the
black man, and the best elements OF tne
white race would accord to him full and exact
Justice. But the trouble is, that sometimes
thenegro doesn't know what Is due 10
neighbor. For instance, only few days ago
a negro got aboard first class car and sal
down on gentleman's overcoat, In seat
where he had left 1t, perhaps to spend awhile
in the smoking car. When the rightful own
or OF the seat returned to claim 1t, he found
the negro In it. He refused to give up the
seat.
We believe, as O matter of fact, thai no
white man in South Carolina would have
taken the seat of another, and then refused
Now, II the white men on board the cars
had assaulted the negro for his unwarranteo
insult, there would have been much said about
race prejudice, but If the intruder had oeen
q white man, and he had gotten beating
everybody would have said he got what he
deserved.
The lynching of the Barnwell negroes Is to
be deeply regretted, but white men will
resent the insults which negroes offer, and
nil The armies of the United States cannot
prevent 1t.
Asa matter of fact, the Barnwell lynching
is terrible thing, and those who executed II
have blood on their hands, which will not
wash of, and their acts have placed stain
upon the good name OF the State.
Such murders are enough to attract the at'
tention of Congress, and 1t is barely possible
that the Government at Washington may be
induced to investigate the matter. The Gov
ernment may yet conclude TO try In the
United States Courts all issues between white
men and black men.
The Barnwell lynching reminds MS Of what
q citizen Of another part Of the State recently
said "There are plenty of men ready TO hit
q negro, If somebody will hold him. These
negroes were unarmed-they could neither
fight nor run. And the mob were without
reason. A blot has been put upon the name
of South Carolina until it can be found that
all these negroes deserved death, and until
IL may be ascertained that the Court would
have failed to do Its duty. AS yet the Court
and juries have not, we believe, failed to dc
their duty when the prisoner was a negro.