The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-02-29
a Yarn From Florida.

Tbs Jacksonville (Fla.) correspondent of
the Chicago Times has furnished his paper
with q cleverly written sensational article
on the politico-race situation in the south.
The Times is a democratic newspaper-a
good one, too-and the correspondents pur-
pose seems TO have been to make political
capital for the Democratic party by the
yarn he spins Chicago is a good long way
from the south, and Chicago newspaper
men are probably not so we'll acquainted
with affairs here as they are with those of
some other sections If they were the story
never would have been printed. 1t reads
well, but lacks the vital element Of truth.
The story is to the effect that northern
republicans. in accordance with a pre-
arranged plan. are furnishing Winchester
rifles and cartridges to the negroes in Geor-
gia, Florida and South Carolina "at about
cost price," for the purPose Of instigating a
race war with view to establishing bay
onet rule in the south. The assertion is
made that at least one member of every
negro family in Georgia and Florida has a
rifle ready for instant action, and that the
negroes of the two states invariably 90
about with a rife as a constant companion.
1.-THE old and respected citizens of this
place" says the enterprising young writer
at column rates, "denounce In bitter terms
the infamous schemes Of northern repub-
licans and carpet-baggers to intimidate the
whites and imperll their homes by arminp
and encouraging outlawry in such an ele-
ment"
The article is fiction pure and simple.
The negroes are not being armed by any
body, except themselves as individuals, and
in this the arming is not concerted move-
ment. They are supplied with rifles ''at
about cost price" just as they are supplied
with coats and trousers at hand me down,
$50 sheep you drinks | shtole EN-" price.
1t is true that the negro hands working in
the turpentine woods and along the new
railroads make practice of carrying guns
with them. Their object in so doing is to
bag any game they may come across in the
forest On several occasions, indeed, they
have been known to turn these guns against
their fellowman, but the cause OF it Away 5
grew out OF craps game or an old quarrel,
and the slayer has been promptly arrested
and held for murder. Only last week q negro
was hanged in this city for murder COM
mitted at railroad camp. He had his gun
handy. was drunk and killed his man. The
| MORNING News must not be understood to
offer an excuse for the carrying of guns. 1t
condemns the practice, and calls upon the
authorities to suppress it. But it merely
mentions the practice and explains it in
order to show that there is not one iota Of
| politics in it.
The idea Of 'bulldozing" white democrats
by gun-carrying is not worth considering,
further than to say that the democrats Of
the south are not to be inundated by guns
or anything else. They know their duty
and their rights, and will do the one and de-
fend the other fearlessly. They have conf
dence in themselves and in the good sense of
| their colored neighbors as a class. They
know the negroes are not buying guns
with any Interior motive. hence they take
no stock in such silly stories as that pub
ltshed In the Chicago Times The southern
democracy is established on a firm aud
broad basis, and neither needs nor will
countenance any such campaign thunder
and bloody shirtism, even though it be cir
culated in the hope otcreating sympathy for
the party.