The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1895-06-13
FALSEHOODS DENOUNCED.
THE STATEMENTS OF A GREENS
BORO ANNANIAS.
Prof. G. Atkins, One of Winston's
Leading Co:ored Citizens, Brands
Them Positively Untrue

OltBZcuS, brands
Them Positively Untrue
Some days ago TIE SENTINEL re-
ferred to an outrageous communica-
ton from Greensboro which appeared
in paper published by colOred men
in Richmond. AS representative of
the coiored people of Winston, Prof.
S. G. Atkins, who enjoys the con-
hdence Of all our citizens, both white
and coiored, has replied to the COM
munication and from his letter we
give the following:
have thus expressed myself on your
attitude DIS editor of Ine Planet in
order that L may not be misunderstood
IN taking exception To Il cOmmunica-
tIon in your issue OF Saturday, June
lst, referring to the recent unfortun-
ate affair ia Winston. n C, and
signed by Il. Il. Garrett, of Green's
boro. Ii is not my purpose to discuss
the merits of the Futile case one way
or the other. On that poinU we will
make no comment until the courts
have reviewed the case and all the
evidence is in. 1t is my wish, how
ever, to disagree with your CORES
pOnGent in the impression which he
seeks to make as To the safety of col
oTed prisoners in Forsyth county, and
as to the feeling of the white people
of WinstonSalem toward the colored
people.
In the first place he has stated, or
lnSlnuated, what is positively untrue
Iuttle was not removed from Winston
in order that he might be lynched the
more easily. Such ali insinuation is
simply absurd and | will not attempt
to meet 1t. Your correspondent seems
to desire to make the impression that
cOlOred men have no protection in
WinstOn-Salem, and that the govern
ing class of the whites are bent upon
oppression and outrage of the colored
man. All of this is grossly erroneous
and calculated to damage all the
people of this city in our gradual but
sure march to the era of complete
good feeling.
Your CORES pOndent is evidently no
student of the history of the race
question in North Carolina. He GER
tainly knows nothing about the race
conditions as they now exist in Wins
ton-Salem. Ii is a pity that he has
not heard of North Cardinals stand
against lawlessncss of all forms and
especially against lynching. She has
repeatedly refused to discriminate
against and prescribe her negro
citizenship. Her statute books. as
well as the conduct OF her public
officials, from the Governor down, are
standing evidence that the Old North
State IS an enemy of lynch law. So
far as WinStOn-Salem and Forsyth
county are concerned, your cores
pOndent'S letter is mere clap trap.
Winston is the home of Honorable G.
b. Watson, 10 whom all the colored
people of this State are indebted for
North (9rAIinnt. lost CT nj I'd
the complete reign of law and order;
viz: d statute which makes lynching
practically forever impossible within
the borders of our commonwealth.
The fact is that there has occurred
only one lynching in the State since
the enactment OF that law and the
person lynchcd was L white man.
More than that these lynchers in
pursuance of that law have been
hunted to the death aud they are now
fugitiycs from justice.
Several months ago n colored man
in this city shot white man who had
entered his house with lawless
intent, and there was no disposition
to implicate the cOlOred man unjustly
before the cOrCner's jury and he went
free. This white man Lad good con-
nectiOnS and many friends, but the
colGrcd mans rights remained in tact
and he was viDdicated This proceed
ure is the rule in Forsyth county
and WinSton-Salem and your CORES
pondent goes beyond the limits OF
truth and lays himself liable to the
charge OF public slander when he
would make the impression that
WinStoD-Sdlem or Forsyth county is
easily prey to mob law
/ am glad to take the responsibility
for the declaration that nowhere
South of Mason's and Dixon's line can
there he found Il better state of feel
ing between the races or more
equitable white citizenship than in
Winston-Salem. We challenge any
body who may doubt this assertion to
come and take evidence. The day
has passed in North Carolina for
bloody shirtism by other race. We
admit that we have some designing
newspapers in the State who tiaunt
the bloody shirt and number Of
ignorant, Irresponsible white people
who are prejudiced and unjust enough
to relish IL lyncuing party, but the
governing claSS-the lawmakers and
property -hOlde "s-are in favor of the
right thing and are opposed to injus-
tice and lynch law.
There may be no objections to a
man having a Winchester or re-
vOlyer in his house, FOR self defense in
an emergency, but the State OF North
Carolina is competent to guarantee to
every honest man of every race within
its borders ''liie, liberty and the pur-
suit of happineSs,' and to every man
charged with crime a fair trial, ac-
cording to the process of law. She is
not only competent to do it but sue is
doing it, and especially in Forsyth
county. futile was not removed that
he might be lynched. He was remov-
ed i n the interest of law and order.
Yours sincerely,