The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-04-26
Wednesday, April 26, 1899.
Is the Handwriting OH the Wall /:

Is the Handwr rfting OH the Wall:
The race troubles In South Carolina, North
Carolina, Louisiana, Illinois, and other Sec
tions may be warnings OF the coming
storm.
The failure of our juries to perform their
duty, and the ease with which white men are
acquitted of crime may encourage the aggres-
sion on one side, and the superior numbers
of the other may embolden them. The
negro, encouraged by his numbers; and the
white man feeling safe from conVlction' may
be the causes which seem to be threatening
the welfare of all the people.
Instead of the people coming together and
living In harmony, 1t seems that race pre)u-
dice and political contentious are widening
the breach. This should not be 30. The
white man desires the blessing OF peace, and
the negro has everything to lose by conflict.
In a conflict between white men the chains
of slavery were long ago stricken from the
limbs Of the negro. without effort on his
part. the slave became an Independent cti'
zen, and was made the equal Of the white
man before the law. The rich slave.owner
was reduced TO poverty. The poverty which
was brought to one, and the boon of personal
liberty which gave the full rights Of citizen
ship to the other, created cond1tioa
which demanded on the part OF each the ex.
ercise Of spirit of the wisest discretion.
Neither should act in the way that would
create friction or widen breach. 1t being TO
the interest OF both the white man and the
black man to cultivate friendly feeling be-
tween the races, 1t is the duty OF both to see
that neither side has cause for grievance.
The existing relations between the races are
yet too new for perfect understanding Of the
duties which devolve upon each in the alter
ed condition.
If each race is conservative. and yields
something to the other, we can get along har'
moniously-all of us can live in peace. and
prosper in The pursuit OF wealth and happi-
ness.
By the exercise OF little forbearance, the
existing prejudices will in time disappear.
and we will then assume the proper relations
and finally find the places to which we be-
long.
Without attempting to justify the fact, and
without making an effort to give reason for
the antagonisms, 1t may be we'll for both
races to look things squarely in the face.
/. The agitation OF social recognition may
be indefinitely postponed by both races. In
time that question will settle Itself
2.-The idea that mere numbers qualities the
negro for holding public Office, or any idea
that the negro will be allowed to elect white
men to Office, need not now be entertained.
8. After an experience Of thirty years Of
freedom, the negro ought to know that there
are numbers Of men in every community
into whose service II is not safe for the labor.
ing man to enter.
4. II their observation teaches them any.
thing, they must know that the richest and
most independent men In the country are
those who spend the least of their time In
politics. The business pursuits in this coun-
try furnish the best examples Of prosperity
and Independent living.
s. While conflicts are always costly in life
and treasure, and always 10 be deplored, yet
the negro ought to know that there does not
exist al instance where the white man has
ever Tor any length Of time yielded suprema-
~ to any other race. While all may live
happily and contented in the same country.
yet when the white mans enemy stands on
too much ground, and too often steps on the
white mans corns, there will be trouble, and
there can be but one end to it.
The situation Is just this:
/. The negro In business-in Industrial pur.
suits-has perfect freedom. Nobody would
deny that.
2. But when the negro enters politics, or
shows disrespect for white women, he excites
that spirit OF sentiment which leads TO a
breach Of the peace.
3. II the preachers Of that race would teach
their young men TO keep violent hands off
the women Of the country, they would have
less reason to deplore the cruelty from which
they may suffer.
4. Let no man forget that In the race
troubles, the fault generally rests primarily
with the negro. He generally commits some
act, which in enormity may be exceeded by
the act Of those who resent it. For instance ::
Why should negroes attempt 10 settle con-
tents between white men-men who are rum
ming for office? Why should have negroes
have burnt Palmetto, Georgia? Why should
Hose have slain Crawford?
1t is a maxim of the law that those who
seek equity must come iuto court with clean
hands. The man who sureptitious crawls up
behind man, and drives an axe into the
head Of his victim has no right whatevar to
complain at bis fate. The protest which is
made against lynching is not In behalf OF the
criminal. 1t is because the act is demoraliz.
Ing to the people who assume to take the law
into their own hands, and commit the deed.
Let no man suppose that any man bemoans
the fate Of man who destroys q woman.
The lamentation is because OF the evil conse-
quences which come from the trampling un-
der foot OF the forms Of law.
The theory 10, that those who perish, should
suffer under the forms Of law.
The evil effect Of lynching is far reaching,
and It's direful influence is not easily under.
stood. For this reason the negro preachers
should teach their young men the importance
OF obedience to the law. When their young
men provoke q breach Of the peace, they will
suffer In their persons and their executioners
will commit the act which lessons public re-
spect for law, and to that extent lessons their
own protection. The law is presumed to ex-
tend Its protection alike to the weakest and
the humblest, az well as to the richest and
the most powerful.
Until the rights Of each are respected, and
until the law is obeyed, there can be no safety
to either the white man or the black man.
II the black man will obey the law, the
white man will do the same. The white man
seldom violates the law without provocation.
There Is no act on the part of any white man
which will compare with the act OF Hose.