Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1892-09-05
!. esexY souIxsas sAasecue.
sa1ses ~ ths negroes mo Watched tAs
lssess.

NsNpHIs Tenn. Sept 5.-A few days
ago grand barbecue was given al Leland,
" ashiugson county, Miss, by the planters
of the vicinity to the negroes living on their
lands. The reason was the faithful service
rendered by the latter during the recent
high v alter, when ths whole of that fertile
! .iluyial region was threatened with dis
ss,rous overflow. For forty-fise days and
nights they watched the leyees upon which
everything depended. standing ready with
spade and hoe and sandbag 10 repair any
breach that might be made by the Missis-
sippi.
II Was hard work. and much was done
while chilling rains were falling. Ere
auentlv the ,iusky laborers stood in water
up TO their knees. but they never faltered.
Not only did they perform the necessary
labor aud keep watch and ward against the
flood but it was also necessary for them TO
guard against attempts to cut the leyees-
The water was prevailing over the efforts
of the people OH the Arkansas side, and
their situation was desperate. BY cutting
the levees on the opposite shore they could
relieve their Trailer bikes of the tremendous
pressure that menaced them with destruc-
ton. This last resort bad been brought
into play on former occasions with terrible
results TO the people on the other side. The
latter were also in similar danger from
the swampers in their rear, who wanted an
overflow to help them in floating their tint
Der out of the inaccessible forests.
TN several occasions the negroes fully
demonstrated the fact that they were there
for business. Every skif that approached
the leyee was hailed and the occupants
were compelled to land and give good ae-
count of themselves. One night when the
peril was greatest small boat was discoy-
cred passing out of the shadow iishore.
The guards hailed il three times without
effect. The third time their Winchestcrs
cracked. Next morning Il boat drifted in Il
mile or two below. A white man and Il
negro lay dead within it, both pierced by
ii-calibre Winchester bullets. 4 dyna-
mite cartridge was found with them. II
was an exact mate to another which was
discovered the same day carefully inserted
in the leyec at the point whence the boat
WAS proceeding the night before when fired
on There were no more attempts 10 blow
up the leyee.
SO it came to pass that hem the danger
was past and the crops worked out, the
planters Toasted their men and made much
at the barbecue. Speeches were made 10
them by orators of repute, praisins them
for their conduct during the time of trial
and pledging to them anew the friendly CO.
operation of the whites. Handsome badges
were presented TO those who had specially
distinguished themselves during the critical
- DAYS.
This was Il conspicuous but by no means
an isolated, instance of the mutual good
will existing in the bottoms, where the ne
grocs outnumber the whites all the way
from two to 10 to one. The reason for this
condition of affairs, i'll such sharp contrast
10 that which exists elsewhere is twofoEi
viz, the whites are of the planter class.
who with all their faults, are now, as be
! fore the war, thu best representatives of
Southern manhood. The habit of com
mand sits easily upon them. They are
past masters of the knowleged of negto
character. and deal with the negroes firmly
or indulgently a. the case may require,
| While he controls As the owner of the
land, the planter appreciates the fact that
his land would be yalucIess without labor,
and that only negro laborcrs are available
/ for the cultivation of large plantations III
( the malarial region.
! The negroes on their part respect the
Land owner as enc fitted to rule. They
know that if his hand is heavy at times it i
! always open when they are in need and
ready to defend them against outsiders. {
! the planter is lord paramount, they are
tenants ut case. Above all, K ere are uo
tramps or agitators among them To stir up
strife between landlord and tenant, employ
or and employee.
! In the hills, and particularly in the tow Ms
and cities " here the races are nearly equal
in numbers, or the whites in the ma ioriiv,
friction is inevitable. Negro laborcrs, me
chanics porters hackmcm. etc, are brought
into competition with white men, and bad
blood is engendered Whites of these
classes entertain Il prejudice against the
negro per Sc, to which the Southern landed
proprietor to the manor born Is n total
stranger. Here is Il fruitful source Of
strife.
Another. and Il more serious one, is the
class OF negroes who have been educated
above their station in life. who will not
work in any sphere open to them, but are
always scheming how they may hive by
their wits. They are shut of by the mex
/ orahlc law of race from association with
white people and are too proud to mlngtr
/ with the les>-cducatcd though more indus
trious and worthy people of their own colpr.
They long for the unattainable amt hate the
whites for their superiority.
I 1t is chiefly IN tins class of negroes and
among those of the ignorant whom they
convert 10 their way Of thinking that the
worst criminals of the rare are found, and
in every instance of conflict between whites
and blacks it is proved that the instgator
was either negro of this stamp or some
white man who just hates niggcrs any
how There is not a ease on record of
serious race trouble originating in II diff
Guilty between an honest, har'lworking negro
and white man of any standing in the
community.
( The whole sum of the race troubles in
the South might be- stated thu, Mean
Whit man plu, mean ncgfo-raee murder.