The San Francisco call., 1899-04-27
THE RICE CONFLICT.

Il
States, 1t is believed that an examination of the
statistics OF crime will show that their contribution
the criminal population is below their due proper
ton They are accorded civil equality before the law,
their rights OF person and property equally pro-
teced and they follow the calngs to which their fit
ness directs them unmoested and not denied the
respect which greets industry and good order, The
public schools and the higher institutions OF learning
are open to them, and they are not slow in taking
advantage OF every opportunity to secure educa-
ton. 1t is difficult to recall instance in the
North in which a negro has given the capital provo
cation for lynchng. which is the fruitful source OF
race troubles and the OF much white savagery
in the South The conclusion from these facts is ir-
resistble that the negro in the North affected by
his environment and his character is built up by his
contacts and his opportunity for education and en-
lightenment. Here he makes no claim OF social
equality, and is as exclusive in abiding with his own
race as are the white people
All this gives great force the declaration of that
negro scholar. the ablest OF his race in the
world Professor Washington 7 Booker who says
the remedy for the horrid lawlessness in the South
is the education of the negro With education he
believes that his race will grow better in character
and stronger in moral purpose, and that the negro
OF the South will approach in conduct and manhood
the negro OF the North.
This is reasonable and this black scholar should
be supported in his view by the South especially
Millions OF negroes are there They constitute largely
the laborng population, and when efforts have been
made looking to their wholesale migration the whites
have shown a spirit of bitter opposition and resent
ment As no one appears with workable plan to
get rid OF the black population and the proposition
OF a lady to make them orderly by ynching thou
sand negroes month until they behave has not yet
been accepted, it would appear that Mr. Booker's
plan is the only uncontested idea that has been pre-
sented 1t may not take sudden root in the South
because depends upon acceptance by the whites and
its success requires their cooperation. AS the negro
rises the plane OF moral restraint and self-respect
he must feel that his common, civil rights are re-
speced by the whites. We are sending missionaries
the blacks in Africa and surely it is quite reason
able to send schoolteachers the blacks in Our own
country. But neither preacher nor teacher will do
any permanent good in solving this sore and sad
problem unless certain rights of the negro are re-
spected by the whites. To educate black man and
expect him to submit to the treatment of bond
man is only to intensity the trouble.
The whites OF the South have much to learn also.
In the State OF South Carolina respectable we'll
behaved and property owning negro was appointed
postmaster last year The whites resented this by set
ting fire to his house, burning several OF his children
to death and shooting him and other members OF his
family they escaped from the flames. The mon
sters who did this were arrested and put on trial
three weeks ago. One OF them confessed the crime
and told the bloody story in this language:
"At II p. m. about dozen OF us met at the store
and outlined our work We went to store near by
and got a sack OF dry shavings and two gallons of
coal oil and then quietly to the postofce where
Baker and his family slept Two OF left the crowd
in the woods ten yards from the house, with every
armed with rifle or shotgun. When we
stepped up the building Lee put down the shay
ings, poured the oil and dashed bucket OF oil on
the side OF the house One match was struck by Lee
but it went out; then another applied, and in
moment sheet OF fame covered the building We ran
off We heard the cries Of the women and children
in the house. Presently the whites began firing and
more screams came from the house When the
women were finally driven out they were shot and
the mob pursued them far into the woods. After the
fire was out we all gathered at the Baptist church
and promised keep the affair quiet far as if CON
cerned ourselves and went home"
In this affair women were burned to DEATH and one
infant was butchered in its mothers arms and she
was killed. The crime was not denied, but the jury
refused to convict the monsters who committed it.
Their attorney, Mr.. Legare, said their defense
that President Mckinley laid the foundation of the
crime by appointing negro to Office
1t is easy to that if this spirit animate consid-
cradle number OF Southern whites it must be exor-
cised in order bring in sight any solution of tire
problem except by massacre. The unspea1abe
savagery that attended the lynching of Hose in
Georgia is appalling that is beyond characterize
ton. But, after all, it had the provocaton of un-
speakable crime committed by the victim. But what
be said for the midnight assassns of the Baker
family in South Carolina, where the victims were in
nocent Of crime and noted for their intelligence
and good order?
1t will be seen at once that the negro will reason
that he has legal protection for his life no matter
how excellent his conduct and as long as the South
ern whites justify that conclusion we may we'll de-
spar OF any progress toward the betterng Of condi
TONS which are not only deeply dsgraceul to the
whole country and retard the material progress Of the
Sa1th but which lead general race war the most
pitless and distressing the world has ever seen.
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THE FRUIT SAVING RHIN.