Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-06-09
He Administers Good Advice to
the COIored Race.
CAUSE OF TIE LYNcHINes
IT tho Negroes Wan, to:Rcmnin an
They Must Aa.ts, In bringing tho
Cowardiy Apncu,. OF Their Race
gEto Justice Ancestral Vices Pres
served Against '"ionizntiop.
tBy Telegraph to virgInlan-Pilot.>


Macon. Ca, June S.--The brief abb
stract of the remarkable address de-
livered by Judge Emory Speer yester-
day before the graduating law class of
Mercer University inadvertently did
him an injustice. The distinguished
jurist to-day In n statement which will
attract wide attention made clear his
position regarding his attitude toward
the negroes as race, in connection
with the outrageous crimes committed
by some OF their number. After refer
ring to the brighter auspices OF the
graduation OF the class of 90 as COM
pared With his own during the civil
war period. he said;
ONE DARK CLOUD.
There is. however ono dark cloud
on the bright morning of our hopes. I
speak as Georgian, rs I have the
right. speak of that condition OF the
public mind because of which thou
sands OF husbands, brothers and faith
ers so to their daily labors with a
rightful dread, akin to that which as
sailed the pilgrims of New England,
who with his savage foeman hard by,
stallied to church with nrelock on
shoulder and sword Mt his side, or the
who tiils his new ground with his rifle
ever In reach; of that danger to the \
peace and happiness of our rural homes
as agonizing and infuriating as any
which eyer afflicted the human race.
ss W. 'StISATS NEGR OEs MUST DO. d *
.I4et me say in the outset that &c Ii \
destructive error to charge the negro 4
race With the atrocitiesSof its own our
casts and pariahs. And let me next I
mn no tys,x, ,tx.v ~ -
the negroes, IL they wish to continue
to remain In peace In these Southern
states. must by their own conduct and
assistance as citizens, to the officers OF
the law In bringing the cruel and cow
nrdly Apaches of their race to the bar
of public justice. acQuit themselves of
the charge now widely made OF racial
sympathy with the criminal. no mat
ter how atrocious his crime. The
plalnest instinct OF self preservation,
aside from the dictates of right and
duty. demand this at their hands. Nor
Is this demand incompatible with the
character and history of the upright
men of their race.
ANCESTRAL VICES PRESERVED.
we Southern people know that there
Is wonderful difference among the
negroes. There Is doubtless as much
difference In tribal descent among them
as there is in nationality OF ancestry
OF our negro population are descended
from degraded tribes and yet preserve
in eXaspcrating perfection their ances.
'rai vices. others spring from those
gentle and manlyraces who kindly min
istered to the helpless Livingston in HIS
long wanderings across the dark con-
tinent. These worthy men have the
confidence and good will OF the South
ern gentlemen. Indeed. the negro is
largely the peasantry of the Southern
states and his labors add enormously
10 the aggregate OF the wealth. feel
that. after all that has been said. this
coiored farmer is no mean friend Of the
state. with all OF its advancing ciyili-
zatlon.
TALK ABOUT CIVILIZATION.
There are Missionaries who talk about
the colonization of the negro, but unless
he chooses to so himself this is utterly
impractlcable.J My word for it. he viii
not, no. choose TO go. No race has stronger
loyal attachments than the negro. Be-
sides way down in our hearts we do
not want him to go"
LAW MUST PREVAIL.
There Will ever I've, as there hsv.
ever been, crimes committed by jndi-
Viduals. many OF them so atrocious thn&
the story will stir a fever in the hIood
OF age or make the infant sinews stronr
as steel. 1t Is due, however, when we
consider our vast territory and largo
population, TO say that they are corr.
paratively infrequent. Certainly IL is
that these crimes, when committ.a
must be deal; with according to ths
methods OF civilized people. The con
stitution OF the United States and or
the state or Georgia provide that no
person shall be deprived OF life. libertv
or property without due process or la w
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