The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1893-11-23
THE BLACK SHADOW,
LYNCH LAW AND ITS CAUSES.
The Most Heinous Of Crimes---
The Remedy as Deplorable as
the Treatment Is Heroic---Opin-
ions Of Two Eminent Authori-
ties,
Wilmington Messenger.J

| w IlniuSIOu AuCoocuSSI.J
We have received letter from a
prominent minister at Washington, N.
c., in which he says:
write to endorse your Wednesday, 8
| article On suppression and violence. II
measures are not taken to change the
! drift of things, the end is noty Ii good
| men may lynch bad man, bad men may
lynch good one. It is not a token for
good when an officer has to escape as a
| fugitivefrom justice because he was faith
full to duty. Will be forced to organize
| anti-lynch leagues to create sentiment
| against?
There can be no safety to life when
it is rendered cheap whether by the
ignorance of men or the growth of
lawlessness. The safety of society
depends upon the virtue and intel
ligence of the people. IT crimes pre-
vail and courts are insufficient to stamp
them out and to afford protection to
life and to guard the persons OF yir-
tuous women, then the redress is found
only in the brave hearts and united
purpose of armed men.
In California in its early history it
was found necessary for the people for
the time to be law unto themselves.
The best elements banded together to
rid the country of scoundrels and
public enemies. 1t was done effect
lively. Now law prevails there, we
suppose, about like it does in North
Carolina.
On yesterday lynching in South
Carolina was reported in the Messea-
ger. 1t was to punish with death a
brute who had violated the person of a
yong woman of virtue. A trial was
given, it was conducted with all due
solemnity, the brute died without a
thrill of fear-stolid, self-cont aimed,
without any more compunction than a
wild beast-and said he was ready for
his end. The inscription pinned to
the body voiced the sentiments and
reflected the purpose and feelings of
the white men of the whole South
"We do not know any better than to
protect our wives and daughters
In that brief sentence centred the
whole question of lyniching. The
people in the North do not know any
thing of the peculiar surroundings,
difficulties and the condition of life in
the South, especially in the rural
districts for the most part very
sparsely populated. They know moth
ing of the sense of apprehension, of
unsafety, of we'll nigh helplessness.
The condition for the most part is one
of lawlessness because OF a lawless
element forever prowling and lying in
wait by night and by day.
In a late number of the New York
Forum there are two papers we wish
every man in the North and in the
South could read. They are both
written by native Georgians, citizens
of high character, of liberal education
and marked intelligence. Bishop At
ticus G. Haygood, very able man
and author, writes upon I" The Black
Shadow in the South" 1t is a very
calm, lucid, thoughtful production. 1t
is by very prominent friend of the
negro-author of that famous book
"The Brother in Black" 1t is bold,
it is truthful, it is the result of close
attention and observation of the whole
field in the South, and merits the con-
sideration of all Northern men who
would understand the whole race
situation in the South.
Whenever Northern editor touches
the race question in the South he
makes muddle of it and writes from
the standing point of ignorance most
dense and impenetrable. But like all
else he handles, he is extremely know
ing and cocksure, and is ready to
pronounce all men fools who cannot
see it as he sees it. We have never
read a sensible article from North
ern editor bearing upon the race ques-
ton in the South. They all write with
prejudice based upon profound ignor-
ance. They write scholarly and con-
fdently, but they are blind, are with
out any proper knowledge of the
situation and are fanatical and foolish.
Their opinions are scorned and ridi-
culed by all men in the South who
have long lived among the negroes.
Bishop Haygood is reported as say
ing that in four months 800 white
women have been raped in the South
If true, and it is possible an under
statement, is it surprising that hanging:
by mobs are frequent2 The white mer
are determined at every cost to pro
tect the sacred persons of their wive:
and daughters. When the brutes cease
to ravage and despoil the hanging:
and burnings will cease also.
We intended to prepare an article
based upon the views of Bishop Hay
good, and a second one upon tn
paper of Maj. Charles H. Smitl
(Georgia's "Bill Arp"), but they ar
: so rich in suggestion and SO importan
withal that they must be read as
whole to be appreciated and valued
They together contain about all tha
lis needed to be said about the rae
condition in the South. They deserv
to be widely copied and disseminated
The last paragraph of Bishop Hay
} good is this:
Unless potent influences can be brough
to bear upon the negro race that wi
awaken it to the enormity Of assaultin
white women, the worst for both races
yet to come and the most dreadfl
: chapters in this sad and fearful histor
, are yet to be written.
5 That is the opinion of one of tt
| truest friends the negroes have in tn
? world and by man of wisdom,