The Twin-City American., 1899-05-11
RACE LOYALTY.
Are the Negroes Of the South Becon-
Ing More Loyal to Each otheri

- -
"United We siand, divided We fall IL
an old epiaranpnasic saying, which, il not
exactly Bible, In sGod'a TRUTH amount-
ing TO about the same thing. II is q tsxt
which should be preached many times
and oft TO the Negro race. In fact,
during recent years, IL has been pretty
we'll harped upon by aome OF the race
papers and leaders, with what result, il
shall be the effort OF the writer TO show
in part.
To answer this question properly and
in way TO impress reading and an in-
tereeted public that the race IL making
the much needed progress along the limo
OF acquiring loyalty, il will be best not to
''tleal in glittering generalities," NJ
school boy would put II, but 10 give
few facts which may tend 20 settle the
matter somewhat satisfactorily in the
affirmative An attempt 10 do this win
be made by setting forth the following
instances, which have come directly
within the knowledge OF persons living
in tho South. Some OF tho examples
presented may arouse the ethical ques-
tion aa 10 whether such allegiance is
better than none at all etill slrawa show
which way the wind blows, and ifpaycho-
logists allow that perverted conscience
Ia preferable TO no conscience nj all,
then by analogy perverted loyalty
should be looked at in the same light,
aud il ia generally conceded 10 be easier
TO reform than TO create.
just after McKinley'a election, in a
small southern town, Negro was appli-
cant for the post.ofiice. This fact, natn-
rally aroused The opposition OH the whites.
The Negro was also a candidate for a
position az teacher in the public school
OF the place. Tho whites w.shed, either
TO give him the position ~ teacher and
bind him by contract In such way that
he could not accept the poat.oiilce we're
he appointed, or, 10 refuse him the place,
thereby forcing him 10 go elsewhore for
work and thua 10 render him Ineligible
10 the position as postmaater. Although
the young man was aware Of their inten.
tion, he did what few would have done
under like circumstances, viz. he frankly
informed the school board that he would
accept the place m teacher, with the
understanding, that u anything better
turned up, tmeaninR, without doubt, the
post ofIicel he would promptly resign and
take II at once. II goes without saying
that he failed Of election. But inst here,
the Negroes OF the town showed race
loyalty. Understanding pretty fully the
condition Of affairs, aud the Negro pol.
iticians Of the town being anxious that
the postmaster be ono OF their own race,
they Immediately organized private
school, installed theirapplicant M teacher
and, Notwithstanding the fact that they
paid their taxes, supported their Inn
promptu school with right good will,
many ot them losing paying jobs which
they had held for years among the whites
by 30 doing. They continued faithful 10
their venture however, till the wonld.be
postmaster was given government posi-
tion.
On an occasion when some Negroes
we're brought 10 trial, che Negroes who
we're summoned aa witnesses against the
supposed criminals not only failed 10
give evidence 10 condemn The parties
arrested, but they also cast not The aIiRh-
test suspicion on any other Negro IN the
community. Intelligent colored men
who attend comrt say that this fact ID
something unusual and nnhearsl Of where
Negroes appear as Witnesses against
members Of their own race
The lynching which took place at Pal
metto, da, short time since, has bad 10
much said regarding II that II appears
better 10 "iet sleeping dogs lis,s 10 We
crave pardon for referring 10 That horrible
affair 10 forgetting this argument, Many
persons will undoubtedly remember thas
the newspapers repeatedly mentioned ti,1
fact that some of the men who were 40
ruthlesly shot down on thnt night Of
outlawry and bloodshsd. lost their lives
beeanse they would not reveal what they
knsw concerning others Of their compan-
ions and friends In and around Palmetto.
II win now forever remain doubt a.
70 whsthsr or not those who, we're mob
bad really knew anything u eriminaiipg
nature, but u they did they were faithful
70 the iAst and no raoe OF man can do
more than do by his loyalty.
The remark IL frequently made ire
sently, 10 souihsrn newspapsru) that the
Negroes are organizing ia aecrei. This.
4 course, may be only an excuse for the
wholesale slaughter % coIored men which
'efy often blackens the page of southern
history. But II Is % BE- hoped that tho
sAtemsnt IL true aud that the Negroes
a ths Blaek Belt of the south have III
act actually come 70 the conclusion that
in union there i strength, z aBd that nm
80 they do stand more friendly and
losely sogsther thsy viii inevitably falI
'ore surely and widely apart.
In . number of towns and cities
Afoaaghout tiae s0niA, wIssre stores Arp
4914s8 ~ ssk1SeeSs4 xsssss. 49,. Nk....s. 60