The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1897-04-22
4 COLORED PREACHERS VIEWS.

Editors Journal In recent issue of your val
liable paper you commented upon some advice of
Bishop ii. M. Turner to the negroes of this coun-
try with reference to providing themselves with
guns and other deadly weapons of defense against
lynching. That the general public may know
that all the negroes do not readily accept the adj
vice OF the Bishop is my first object in writing
you. We are not opposed to such advice because
we believe in lynching, far from it. We do not
believe in lynchiDg first, because "two wrongs
does not make one right" Lynehing is murder
and those who engage in it are greatest violators
of law than their victim, in as much as the law
presumes him innocent We oppose lynchng,
second, because the laws provide for the certain
doom Of law breakers Those who administer the
laws in this land can be relied upon to mete out
justice to the negro who deserves to die for his
crime. All we ask for the negro is what an hon
Orable man is willing to give, a fair trial under
the law. This had, and his crime deserving death
we say hang him until he is dead, dead. We
We do not believe lynching is in accordance with
divine law, it is therefore sin for which the land
must atone. Righteousness exalteth nation
but sin is reproach to any people. We do not be-
lieve in lynchng because where it is rife mans
life is safe. We realize that the crime for which
negroes are mostly lynched is very grieVous, and,
must therefore, acknowledge that there is some
thing grand in tie public sentiment that avenges
the objectionable crime with speedy death.
However do not bake kindly to the Bishops
advice, because do not believe it in accordance
with Divine law. Our common Master said to
that impulsive disciple, Put up again thy sword
in his place. for all they that talks the sword shall
perish with the sword" We do not take kindly
to the advice because it is suited TO work far great
er mischief than the mischief done without
Again we do not think so much of it because we
believe the great energies OF the venerable Prelate
could be used to far better advantage to she ne
groes. We believe if the Bishop would spend more
OF his wonderful power in putting the Bible into
she negroes hands and then striving to set them
10 live by its teachings he would be serving hui
manity to much greaser advantage, The negroes
used 10 sing "You may have all this world but
give me Jesus" This melody has been sneered at
much until it is quite obsolete. This ought not
80 to be. The negro does not need less of this
world. He ought certainly have more of the spirit
and teachings of the Jesus inwrOught into his be-
ing. / have heard it is said that Bishop Turner
has not infrequently advised negroes in the south
to accept with caution ,northerH aid that comes to
them in the form of education and manly inde>
pendence saying that such aid was suited to lift
them to the point OF thinking themselves as good
as the white man and when tnat was so it would
be a much darker day for the negro in the south.
Such advice is unbecoming sAe mani do not
credit il. Lesser lights than the Bishop however
asgiyen it. 1t is wrong. We disclaiM that north
ern aid to the negro is given to him out OF his
place. On the contrary it is given or the purpose
OF lifting him up TO his proper place IN the great
American body polite. That place is that of
seli-respecting, self-sustainlng citizen. Q
Every person coming into the world is a con-
sumner. If his labor is not turned to advantage
to make good his consumption, he becomes so
much dead weight to the progress OF ALL Every
now and then we hear OF a negro going to the
changing for vagrancy. So far as discover
this does not lessen the Migrants The physician
who would cure disease, removes the cause for it,
The South above any other section OF this Union,
has an awful problem on its hands. The negro is
here to stay He is increasing at the rate OF five
hundred every twenty>tOur hours. He must eith>
err be made greater factor to the greater progress
of The South, or he becomes greater burden TO be
borne. Physical, intellectual, moral, and spirits
ual traininA in short, Christian education, is
what Will make him Sel-respecting, self>suStain>
ing, helpful factor in the progress of the South.
1t becomes all men, therefore, who believe in God
and the right, to put their shoulders to the wheel
and help give him tnis-Bishop Turner's advice to
| the contrary notwithstanding.
Respectfully,
/ CALVIN LANE