The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-01-13
A Misnamad Malodrama


convict lease system form the basis for
new melodrama, called the New South"
that has been put on the stage In New
York. Judged by the meager details of the
plot that have been published, and the crit
icisms OF the metropolitan press, the authors
of the play know very little about either
the negro politician Of the New South" or
the Georgia convict system, but have fitted
both, in their play, to the northern ideas Of
what they are.
And tbs probably well, from a box-ofice
point of view, that they did so. for people
are not fond OF having their idols smashed
by play carpenters. The negro politician
depicted in the play may have lived during
reconstruction days, when he was taught
by carpet-baggers from the north to be ava
rioious and vindiotive, and murderous, if
need be. But his species is extinct now,
and has been ever since 1876, when the south
was rescued from the vultures that swooped
down upon. her and nearly succeeded In
leaving nothing Of her but whitened bones.
The play begins on the lawn Of Georgia
homestead. The son of the family quar-
rels with his sisters lover an army officer,
and Is stunned by self-defensive blow from
the soldiers scabbard. While he lies sense
less and the other has gone into the house
to bring restoratives, a revengsful negro
finds him. This negro had engaged in a
| shrewd political plot, including the stealing
| of ballot-boxes. whereby the son of the
family had been defeated for congress; had
gone to the young man with proposition
| that he be bribed with q considerable sum
- 4AFt
| the boxes and had been horse.
| whipped for his insulting assurance.
Seeing the man who had logged him lying
on the ground completely at his mercy the
negro stabs him to death. The officer is
| tried for the crime, convicted of manslaugh-
ter on good circumstantial evidence, and as
| a convict falls into the hands of a rascally
contractor, who is his rival in love and COM
sequently treats him harshly. His sweet
heart alone believes him innocent. She has
the convict leased into her employ, in order
that he may clear himself, and the rest of
the play is devoted to incidents connected
with his finally successful efforts to right
the wrong.
If there is anything In that plot to sug-
gest the new SOUTH 1t is not apparent to
|
series OF events would not have happened
in Georgia in 1883 the time of the
play had the characters all been set
to work out the plot. even down to
the stealing OF the ballot-boxeS. For when
the colored politician approached the cam
didate for congress to be bribed to return
the stolen ballot-boxss he would have been
smilingly received, and, instead of
rawhide on his back, he would soon have
felt a pair OF handouts on his wrists.
The only strength in the play appears to
be its regrettable appeal TO seciionalism and
race prejudice. One critic. the Recorder,
SAYS: The race hatred which even to-day
exists between the blacks and whites in the
south, is the motive OF all that occurs. The
barbsrous system of leasing convicts to
private individuals. thereby causing a
practical resumption of slavery, is also
treated with free penn
As far as the convict lease system is con-
cerned, il is not TO be defended; it is
iniquitous and ought to be ebrogated. But it
is not true that race hatred in the new
south" is so intense as thu authors of this
play, and the critic quoted, would make be-
lieve. There exists a very good feeling be-
tween the white and colored people in the
south, which is growing stronger, aud
which would grow much more rapidly were
1t not for play writer's and newspaper
writer's that fan the smoldering embers for
a few paltry dollars. In fact, there is not
es much prejudice against the blacks in the
south as there is in the north.