The times., 1898-12-05
NEGRO AND WHITE MAN.
(From the Chieago Record. }

.ue poupies III tne south Is very apt TO be
IKE doctor who prescribes for n case
ne has had no chance to diagnose. II
| would be true In this instance. also IL IL
were not that what has happened in Geor-
gia has happened in Illinois and Ohio. The
race riots in North Carolina were of a
piece with the same proceedings in the
State of Lincoln. The men who shoot the
| negro in Hogansville are blood brothers 20
those who hang him in Urbana, and the
deed Is neither better nor worse because 1t
happens in one section of the country or
other. The race spirit in the United States
is not local. but general
To the outsider unacquainted with the
vagaries of our national prejudice, the re-
cent and sudden change of attitude of the
American people toward the negro would
! appear inconsistent, to say the least We
are first presented with the spectacle of
people gushing through glowing head
lines over the bravery of its black heroes.
In an incredibly short space of time-al-
most too brief. II would seem, for the men
tai transition of the individual. much less
the nation-we find the mouthpieces of this
same people chroniclinS the armed resist
[ ance OF the community to the negroes in
the exercise of those powers and privil-
eges which are the glory of the country
for which black men fought.
The drama of this sudden change of
heart is incongruous to the point of shast-
ly humor.
The new attitude may be Interpreted as
saying: Negroes, you may fight for us.
but you may not vote for us. You may
rroye-r strong buiwark when the bullets
are flying. but you must stand from the
line when the ballots are in the air You
may be heroes In war, but you must be
craSens in peace
1t is true as has been so insistently
urged. that it would be expedient for the
negro to forego his suffrage and climb
to worth and the worlds respect by other
means. By other means, That is the cry
of miners when they ask him out Of the
mines. II is the motto of the mechanics
unions when they ask him out OF the
shop. 1t is the word of the whole conf
mercial world when they ask him out Of
everything-the American shibboleth.
Relinquish, And from the dust of the
very lowest places that grind mems
souls and kill aspiration, the negroes seek
to climb to places of worth and respect.
In order to cool the passions and alIay
the prejudices of the superior race the
entire self-effacement of the negro would
be eXpedient, as expedient as it would be
cowardly; and, say what you Will of the
American people their respect is not to
be won by cowardice. Let these suffering
people relinquish one single right that has
pttn given lntul anu lflt FdpttiNS VI Nlle
other race, encouraged by yielding, will
ravage from them every privilege that
they possess. Passion and prejudice are
not sated by concession, but grow by
what they feed on.
The Vaudois, hiding like beasts in their
mountain businesses. shot like goats upon
their own hills, purpling with their blood
the streams of their own valleys, France
could hate but she dared not despise.
] The Indian himself. ground to dust under
the heel of civilization, driven 10 death
by the greed of a stranger people, will
not be remembered with a sneer. But for
the negro honor is dangerous; only cow
ardice is safe.
The African is told that he is not yet
ready to participate in government. be-
cause he has not yet learned to govern
himself and the race which teaches this
proves its own right to political domina-
tion by the rioting, the rapine and the
slaughter with which for weeks past the
civilized world has been scandalized.
Since when was ever a psychological fact
established by a musket?
After all, the question is not one OF the
negros fitness to rule or to vote. but OF
the whites right to murder him for the
sake of instruction. Not a groan that thc
Romans wrung from the hearts OF the
conquered Britons but echoed and re-
echoed in the sound Of her own fall.
Every drop OF blood that France drew
from her suffering Husuenots on St Bar
thoomeB's day but called its brother 10
the hungry sod on that awful 1ith of July.
Rome sated her thirst for blood and called
1t civilization. France indulged her bar
barrie fancy and named II religion. Ameri-
ca strides through the ashes Of burning
( homes. over the bodies of murdered men
women and children, holding aioft the
banner of progress.
4 Progress. Necessity, EXpediency,
But why Is it necessary to excuse these
{ acts by sOphistry? Is not murder muir
/ der? Is not rapine rapine? Is not out
\ rage outrage?
| The whites are stronger than the blacks
! Why not. then. say to them. openly: I'VE
I do not like you; We do not want you il
I certain places. Therefore. when We please
we Will kill You. We are strong people
| you are weak. What We choose to do We
! will do, right or no right. There is NJ
/ one to wage with us a holy war in tht
/ cause of humanity
Even the church has attempted to ex-
! plain and palliate. and we are told from
! the pulpit that the negroes have beer
taught a salutary lesson: that the whites
| must prevail. The murderers of vii.
mington are congratulated upon the ef-
/ tOll litN nave lpNdTu GlNilZdllDI
] and purer government. And some oi
| this within a stones throw of the ma
! tion's capital, When the reckoning shaI
come what shall such ministers say:
! They have not stoned martrys
but they have burned their shoul-
( ders with the coats of thos,
I who did; and every such is an ac
1 complice dyed with the same blood as tht
men who stood red-handed over the mur
dered blacks. And yet. what else coult
I we expect from the pulpit. when we re
member than less than forty years ago
I with the same SNUG complacency, it was
I finding excuses for slavery and in it trac-
| ing out the divine intention?
The passions of people often need q
spiritual backing. and shame to say. We
have clergy always ready and willing
| to furnish 1t, whether it be when man re.
| strains his fellow-man from the exercise
4 of his national rights or murders him fol
pursuing his political duties. 1t is dis
grace to the honor of their calling. a re
Election upon the intelligence of thei
hearers, and an insult to the God the,
profess TO serve.
The text for better and for dIfferen
sermons might be found for these divine!
! in Paul's first epistle to the Corinthians
1t is as apt today as it was then. and 4
! applies to the American people with NJ
less strength than it did to the older race
Take heed said the apostle, "lest b.
any means this liberty of yours becom,
a stumbling block to them that ar,
| weak
We are confronted with the statemen
that the sudden enfranchisement of tht
negro was mistake Perhaps it was Blu
/ the whites made it. The mistakes of lii,
are not corrected in that way. The effect.
are eternal. You cannot turn back tn,