The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-09-07
Dhe @essemger.
NORTHERN LEGISLATION AND
VIEWS.

The Troy IN. W Press copies from
The Messenger what was said rela-
five to the negroes in their religious as
.~xociations passing resolutions in con-
sdemnation Of rapes. We do not know
that our suggestion that these reso-
gutions of censure become general
among negro bodies meets the approval
al the Troy paper. perhaps, sent to us
by some one who Is not in sympathy
with the wise and considerate move
ment Of the Bannister Baptist Associa-
fion Of Virginia, colored. But be that
rs it may, our New York state n
temporary is surprised that The Mes
!senger failed to make the suggestion
To the white churches. 1t
eff the white churches OF the south,
in the meantime, would unite In the
condemnation Of the hellish MUIR
derous crime Of lynching, taking a
stand strongly for law and social Or
der. the probability Of the action rec
. commended by our southern contempor-
airy would be greatly increased. 1t IS
curious that this suggestion did not
occur to. The Messenger. In m
Ties where the race which piumes IT.
self of superiority ~degenerates into a
mob frequently n slaughters sus-
pected offenders with wanton brutal
ity and without forms of law, a reform
movement should begin in their
churches. Yet we hear Of no white
s.hurch in the south hat has taken or
syanized action against this barbarian
practice, which is injuring the south
IN the eyes of civilization"
In some southern cities, and in many
carts of the south, distinguished and
influential ministers ave written and
preached against lynchings. White
Judges and others have spoken and
published in severe condemnation. But
x,ntil lately the large negro churches
all over the south were silent as to
rapes, but very pronounced as TO
~aynchings, denouncing them quite in
the style of the Press at Troy, N. I. IL
the editor will visit the south n
bring his family-wife and daughters
and will farm in some secluded section
he will begin to see how very insecure
is home life, and how frail the prOtec-
ton furnished to the females. the
fact is neither the Troy man nor any
of his n%eighbors understand the stu
alton in the south. But he is probably
X so many others Of the cock-sures
I'D north, he can deal with the utmost
wisdom with the negro problem, the
yreates the south has to consider, and
can exactly determine what is best for
a. - 40 IN tho ynattpr of
yynchings. He ought to understand
that without the devilish p there
would be no "wanton brutality visited
upon black brutes. Let the rapes
cease, and punishment for rapes will
cease with it.
The southern whites are a hundred
times more anxious for rapes n
hangings to cease than far away SYM
pathizers can possibly be. 1t seems to
as that not long ago there was a big
racket near the Press editors home
over a threatened lynching. If the
churches in the south should speak out
in condemnation Of lynchings they
would be doing their duty, but they
should by no means omit condemning
also the brutal, cruel rapes and muir
t1ers that produce the violations of law
SO much regretted. We think that
there have been ~Outspoken condemna-
tions of lynchings in the south by white
religious bodies. Does the Press con-
denim rapes along with %lynchings? Or is
it only One-sided?
Some one has sent us a copy of the
Norwich Comm Bulletin in which the
Messengers article appears and an edl-
Sorial. 1t commends the good sense of
the Virginia colored Baptists in their
deliverances against rapes by fellows
of their own race-they can not be call
ed men. 1t also commends the negro
republican convention to lately met at
Dallas, Texas, and their free condem-
nation of rapes by negroes. The pres
fdent of the convention said that
steps should be taken by the better
element of blacks to reduce the num-
Der of rape fiends, and an equally de-
fermined effort by the better element
of whites to secure greater respect for
Inc law, ana cdlleu upon MS IellOWS
10 condemn the wrong in the color
ed race as readily as they do in 9TH
,ers."
The New York Evening Post thinks
good will come to the country if the
spirit of the two bodies referred to al
ready shall 'pervade both races" The
paper say
TT is to be hoped that this spirit will
be shown by the colored people in all
zsarts of the country. 1t is the best way
30 prevent crime and promote good cit
I2enship."
The Messenger warmly indorses and
gives hearty Amen! There is only a
small elemen of devils in the negro
race in the south who are doing SO
much Internal meanness n stirring
%A such excitement and provoking such
swift retaliation and punishment. Sure