The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1894-08-16

This is his best argument, Dut IL Gull
tains q sophistry that destroys the
effect of his conclusions. de says
the negro had many opportunities to
show that this was part of his ma
ture during the war and that he was
faithful and loyal to the almost ex-
clusively woman population IN tne
South. He was, and while 1t mas
never been charged that the Whole
race was 80 inflamed by passion that
none of them could or would restrain
themselves, it is nevertheless true
that some of them have gone through
a wonderful change since they nave
been emancipated or set Tree. Iheir
own writer's and the most Intelligent
men of their race, admit that under
freedom they are not as a class as
good men morally as they were IN
slay cry. Now as rule If they nave
deteriorated az q race from the nigh
standard they made during the war
do not the same conditions influence
the most debased to deteriOrate much
more rapidly and in a greater degree
than have the best of them.
The brute who would be guilty OF
such crime was in slavery subject TO
such a control that he had no thought
of seriously offending the dominant
race. Like any other brute, he was
governed through his fears, now his
exaggerated ideas OF freedom nave
bolstered him with temporary cour'
age or desperation in his desire to
crafty his british lusts. Douglass
argument in this respect can't hold
water, and is based and concluded
upon an obvious fallacy, Douglass
SAYS he would not believe the testi-
mony of SUCH men as engage in mob
violence. That as a general principle
has some foundation, but connected
with this particular crime it has no
force. Some of the best men in this
country have been 30 outraged by
this crime that when they got posses
sion of the culprit and they felt GER
tain:that they had the right one, they
gave him short shrift and although
guilty of a violation of the law
in the heat of passion
they are credible on any matter COM
ing under their knowledge,
The whole of the article of Fred
Douglass partakes OF the
false assrtion of the cap.
tain towit: Lynching black
people because they are black" That
is not true. 1t has never been done,
but black people have been lynched
in the South because they have been
guilty of the most Infamous crimes
known to civilization, outraging de
fenseless, young and delicate women
and children in manner the most
cruel and shocking.
We do not favor lynch law under
any circumstances or under any prov
ocation, but we believe with ex-GOv-
ernor Chamberlain of South Carolina,
who in an open letter addressed to
Fred Doug lass said:
"Your denunciation of the South on
this point is directed exclusively, or
nearly 80, against the application of
lynch law for the punishment of one
crime. The existence, l suppose l
might say the prevalence of this
crime, OF the South is undeniable
But | read your article in view for
any special denunciation ofthe crime
itself, as you say, your peo-
pie are lynched, tOrIued and
burned for assault on white women,
you value your good fame as a race,
stamp out the infamous crime"
Miss Frances Willard of the
Woman's Temperance Union a north
ern woman also writes Douglass.
81 pity the Southerner, the problem
SIN their hands is unreasonable, the
"colored race multiplies like the To-
"custs of Egypt. The safety of woman,
childhood in the home is menaCed
Eat thousand localities this moment
$50 that men dare not go beyond the
"sight of their roof tree"
If this northern woman tells the
truth and who doubts it, is there not
strong palliation for the summary
punishment by lynching of such
brutes as contribute to this uLsafe
condition of affairs in the south by
constantly committing the crime Of
all others calculated to arouse the
vengence and ierosity OF the mos
gentle and quiet men?
s--ssss--------s--------=s
TaE cnactmeut of the tariff bill
touched the button and the wheels %
commerce began to revolve at once
Ii only required a settled policy O
any kind to revive trade and manu-
lacture. Information from bushes
eeulcrs is tothc effect chat just as soor
as the tariff was settled the telephone