Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-08-25
Observation-Disclosures 25, 1897
A PSYCHOLOGICAL ERUPTION.

Our esteemed. usually wide-awake, and,
ms a rule. fair-minded and conservative
contemporary the Springfield (Mass) Re-
publican, occasionally drops off into
slumber and wakes up several years In
the past During these occasional ana
semi-occasional slumbers, the spirit of
cant worketh in IT.; for some time after
Il awakes that spirit continues TO possess
It. and while 1t is under the spell it is
study in psychology, or. perhaps, 1t
would prefer we should say study in
transcendentalism. 1t becomes utterly
oblivious to the history of its own sec
ton, and speaks not for itself
The Republican has just emerged from
one of its frances, or visions, or slumbers,
and the spirit OF cant moves it to the
enunciaton Of a new theory touching
lynchings in the South. That theory is
that lynchings, and the crime which
provokes them, are 'Divine Judgment
upon those through whom the offence
of negro importation and servitude
came"
If this be true how hath New England
escaped utter humiliation? In no way
can her exemption from such fate be
explained. except on the hypothesis that
New England had a dispensation from
Providence TO sin according to her own
sweet will. and go unwhipped of retribu-
ton. While the Republican is theorizing,
It forgets the practical fact-the cold,
hard, historical fact-that negro slavery
In this country was almost exclusively
the result OF New England enterprise.
1t forgets that that section made thou
sands and thousands of dollars by manu-
featuring cheap rum. sending 1t ont to
Africa, and exchanging it for negroes,
that were brought over here in New
England ships. Its memory is blank
not abolished in the land Of the 'holer
than thou until it ceased to pay there.
1t has entirely escaped the Republican
that. according 10 its own logic, II the
South is suffering Divine judgment for
negro slavery, New England should re-
ceive twofold punishment. for not only
did the latter foster enslaving the blacks.
but up to few years ago the condition
OF the white slaves in her mills was in
fnitely worse than was ever the condition
of the black slaves on the southern plan
tations. Our esteemed contemporary
also forgets that the theory that there
was no harm in white slavery. which
theory was put into practice so extensive
~ later in connection with New Eng
land Industrial development, was held.
away back in the early days Of that sec
ton. Did not the Bay States own saint.
Cotton Mather or some equally pious
and phianthropic New England Colonial
character. propose that William Penn and
his Colony OF Quakers be intercepted by
Massachusetts vessels and sold as slaves
10 West Indian planters. to the glory of
God and the replenishing OF New Eng
land Golfers?
And while this subject Of retribution or
Judgment for 'inhumanity and cruelty
Is up. the thought suggests itself that
the Republican forgets certain diver
slons that were engaged in al Salem to
the edihcation OF the truly pious and hui
name and the discomfort of a class OF
females called witches. 1t also seems
unmindful of New England's humane
transactions with the aborlgnes.
We aiude 10 these unpleasant incidents
in the history OF New England that the
Republican has forgotten without the
slightest purpose OF recrimination. as that
term is understood. We could not have
any such purpose. for we do not recog-
nizc that any elimination clings 10 our
skirts In connection with slavery, We
took the naked. savage. heather negroes
whom shrewd New England slave-traders
and ship-builders In large measure forced