The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1895-07-27
SOMETHING MIST BE DONE.

''''ne Morbid horror hunters have
supped fOa on the awful details
"aien have dlled column after column
OF the daily papers, and criminal
ingenuity seems to be exhausting it,
s', ~ 'he invention Of strange and
diaoOlical wickedness. Such crimes
- 'ne Holmes murders, the Nasks
ou'enery, and the hundred others.
however, have not as grim significance
10 southern readers as the daily re-
ports ofoutrageOus violence BY negroes
and the almost inevitable lynching.
'hat follow. No southerner Is ignor.
ant oi 'ne fact that, gloss it over and
nlae i as we may, Ourgrestest trouble
aud danger arises from the presence
VI an alien and even hostile race
encys'ed among us--a people between
whom and ourselves there can never
exist a community of interes, or sym.
pa'hy. A people incapable of recos.
nlzing the obligations Of morality or
rengion, aud whom no certainty or
severity ofpunlshment can deter from
the perpetratiou Of crime whenever an
opportunity offers. What is TO be-
dosef Every reasonable effort has
been made BY the people OF the south
70 redeem this race and elevate them
70 some conception Of the obligations
OF law and civilization. Millions have
been expended by white tax payers
Tor their schools. Their churches dot
every road crossing. Is any result ap-
parent III the Improvement OF their
education or moralss Il is true that
Washington county, even with its ap-
palling disparity of population. con-
tanning about $4,000 negroes and only
about 1000 whites, is and has always
been singularly free from race troubles,
and crimes against the whites are al-
most unknown; but In places in which
the negroes are thrown into closer
contact with the whites, aud feel none
OF the awe with which they regard
the class which composed their former
masters, II is manifest that the two
races cannot dwell together with safe
ty to either
In certain counties of Florida, after
long course Of shocking outrsges
and lynchngs, an organized effort is
being made to drive the negroes cut
entirely. The white population has
become SO embittered by repeated
crimes against helpless women and
children that they seem to have lost
all regard for the process Of law, and
have taken the solution Of the problem
into their own hands, With the result
of inaugurating reign Of terror
among both races. The preparation
of certain crimes creates such fury
of Indignation iha, swift vengeance
therefor is mere human nature, and no
enactment of laws will ever entirely
do away with II. But unchecked vio-
lence, however strong the proyocation'
can have only disastrous end. 10 what
condition this often righteou1, but
often hasty vengence will lead cannot
be foreseen, but very desperate con-
dition may easily be foreboded. There
must be some protection assured for
white women. The present condition
Of affairs is perfectly monstrous, aud
without precedent IN any but savage
land. Ordinary law seems inadequate
to meet the occasion. Even certain
and immediate death by lynching
seems to hsve no deterrent effect. 1t
may be that the plan of Lafayette coun-
ty Florida is the only practicable one.
At all events, It is certain that the
south cannot hope for immigration
aud development while such state Of
affairs exists between the two races
| that pe0ple IL.