The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-05-17
The LYNCHlNG AT DENMARK
And It's Probable Effect on South Caro-
lima Negroes.

WAsHINGToN, May 1.-THE following
letter. vouched for by disinterested OBJ
server has been received here, depicting
the existing condition of public feeling in
South Carolina. 1t may be stated that the
writer is not connected with either polit-
ical party in South Carolina. He asserts
that for obvious reasons the actual cOndi-
ton of affairs is not disclosed either in the
public press of the state or in the press
dispatches:
COLUMBIA, S. c., May u, 1898
Although At first glance the popular excite
ment aroused by the lynching OF the negro,
Peterson. at Denmark IN this state appears to
have subsidized. to the skilled observer of pub
lie affairs it Is plainly evident that beneath the
surface there are strong currents of bitter feel
ings at work that will not come TO rest until
they have wrought marked changes in the very
substrstum OF politics in the Palmetto
state and by sympathetic action
in the whole of the great black belt of
the South. Public meetings TO voice the Opin-
ions OF localities upon this case have ceased,
but 1t has by no means dropped out OF public
attention, and there 10 feeling OF disduiet
evident ali sides. Wherever a group Of
negroes are TO be seen together the chances
are ten 70 one that they are talking about the
Denmark affair. and an Ominous sign Is that
they do not talk with the white people about
II, for heretofore they have been free TO COM
plain TO that element in the community when
they felt that they had cause.
There Is a division of feeling among the
whites but II Is by no means an even division.
The most influential newspapers in the state
have with practical unanlmlty condemned the
lynohing and more strongly sill the white
citizens who Ia formal public meeting as as at
Barnws.l. held up the band OF lynchers and
denounced the editors who stiginatized the
lyncllug as a murder. But Notwithstanding
these utterances 10y the newspapers, there is
reason 70 believe that they do not represent
the feeling OF their readers small
element amongst the white population
boldly declares that Peterson was
guilty OF the foul crime which no
Southern man would hesitate to punish by
lynch Law. But much larger element, accept
ing the positive testimony OF the girl who was
the victim OF the outrage, to the effect that
Peterson was not her Rssailant, and his strong
abb are, nevertheless, OF SpiniOn that an ex-
ample was necessary TO secure the safety of
their families, and 80 sanction the sacrifice Of
the negTo's life. Pitted against these two
elements and IN the minority so far as close
contend Tor strct justice; Tor observance Of
the forms of law, and who desire 10 foster the
development OF the natural resources of the
state by assuring the safety of the investment
OF capital.
Though the feeling is bitter, it is not to be
understood that there is imminent danger of a
war or races. The negroes are acting with pru-
dence and are discussing the affair calmly but
earnestly. They have abandoned hope OF out
side interference and are becoming half-reli-
ant. Among other projects they are discuss.