The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-05-06

Our people are coming to take his true
measure. That Is the beginning of the
end. SO soon as the fact, divested OF
all glamour, stands bald that the lynch
er puts himself on q level with his VIC
tim, In the eyes of the citizens as in the
eyes of the law, we shall have done
with these sickening butcheries, this
makinRofa hundred white murderers In
the uuspeakable doing to death of one
negro brute. Anglo Saxon law Is strong
enough to protect Anglo-S Saxon cJvillza-
tlon against the negro brute: It must
be made strong enough to protect It
against the white lyncher as well.
Therein lies the safety OF society.
In a letter TO 4 friend IN Washington
one of the highest dfgnItaries OF the
Methodist Episcopal church south
says: "The time has come for taking Il
broad view OF the situation, and speak.
Ing out In a perfectly candid and fear
less way. While do not hesitate to
approve OF tho resolute efforts OF the
white men in the southern states to
regain control Of their own affairs (of
which they were deprived under tho re-
construction act). am compelled to
admit that the measures which they
adopted for accomplishing that result
have borne evil fruit In many dlrec-
tions. Manipulating the ballots became
n fine art, and thnt, too. in suite Of the
fact that In the old days absolute hon.
6sty was the universal rule Mt the
polls, and cheating was not known nor
even dreamed Of.
when juggling with the returns wGs
not possible. the threat of shot guns and
Winchester rifles was potent TO keep
the colored electors Mt convenient dis
tance. 1t would be difficult TO esu-
mate the damaging effects OF such prac-
tices upon the rising generation. No
patriot can contemplate them without
n shudder.
Take AdvaDtaS Of License.
"When the social structure Is rocking
and swaying to Its foundations, bad
men always have their innings. They
take advantage of the license OF the
times to do as they please. In many
cases. they have dealt harshiy and cruz
city with Innocent cciored men, and
viewed with abhorrcncc By the better
classes. yet very often they have cs-
capped mcrttel penalties.
Taking everything into account,
considering the vnstness Of the social
and political upheRvals through which
the country has passed. tho Disorders;
have been not greater. but less than
might have been anticipated. The ne
groes, on the whole. have done aston
ishingly well. Their record since the
civil war has been almost rs honorable
as tn" one that they made while tho
conflict was raging. To hold the entire
race responsible FOR the outrnges COM
nitted by few thousands. or a few
score thousands. of its members IS not
Just nor right Weu-bred gentlemen.
aa- Nnn,t,, I1,. hn, .tt ri
tians. will not be guilty of perpetratlag
SO great wrong. The masses OF
the negro are patient, tractable. harm
less toilers. Though easily led astray
by designing and unscrupuious guides.
they have many trnlts that nre worthy
OF all praia,.
And The white peopla have done
we'll, too. The immense majority OF
them are AZ excellent citizens AS can be
found on the earth. What Is more to
the present point Is the fact that they
arc also well disposed 10 the negroes.
Were It not so they wmiid not have
taxed themselves, In the midst of their
appalling poverty. to the extent of ESQ.,
600 to educate the negro children.
Astothc Future. J.f.c.
"Just what the future will bring
forth the man is not alive who can tell.
The more | study current events, the
more ! am puzzled md perplcxed. But
there are some things about which
there cpn be no doubs. The white peo-
pie OF the south ought to set their faces
like flint against the mob. No mat
ter how great the prorocat!on. they
must not forget that respect for the
orderly processes of law Is the essen
tlal condition OF social fand political
prosperity. No good OF any sort can
come from the trampling down OF
courts and juries, and the intliction OF
death without due form OF trial. II
the mob !s allowed to deal with one
class OF citizens iE this harDurous fash
ion, II will speedily take the liberty OF
dealing so with everybody. Leaving
all higher considerations out OF the
question. the very Instinct Of self-pre-
servatIon should lead US to suppress
every Illegal and violent attempt to
take away human life or interfere with
human liberties"