The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-08-27
THE LAwLEssNEss AT DAR1EN.

The outbreak Of lawlessness at Darien
on the part of the negroes is regrettable
for several reasons, but particularly be-
cause it will be a good while before the
friendly feeling, which has heretofore ex-
listed between the whites and blacks there,
will be restored. The reason ii win be a
long time is that the blacks are largely
in the majority, and that fact will tend to
make them overbearing and aggressive IN
their attitude towards the whites after the
pending trouble has passed
The story of the outbreak does not show
the white people to be the aggressors in
The least degree. A back man of some
prominence among the people of his race
was charged with a heinous offense by
white man. the father of the woman al
legged to have been wronged. The black
man who lived quite a distance from
Darien went there and surrendered to the
sheriff, at the same time denying that the
charge that had been lodged against him
was true.
The sheriff, being afraid that the negroes
would attempt to release the prisoner from
Jail, planned to bring him to this city for
safe-keeping. The negroes, hearing of this.
collected in Darien, and declared that they
would not permit the prisoner to be NOV
ed. They believed, evidently, that he
would be taken a distance out of Darien
! and lynched. AS matter of fact the pao-
| PIE Of Darien never entertained a thought
of lynching him. AS far as can be learned
there was no feeling of Indignation against
/ IL.
to conviction, that he was not guilty of
the crime with which he was charged.
! There are colored men in Darien who are
not lacking in ability, and who have indu-
ence with the people of their race. II
they had come forward and said that there
was no disposition to harm the prisoner
and that they would willingly accompanv
the sheriff to Savannah as a guard tbere
would have been nothing of the SUBSEQUENT
lawlessness. But it seems that the negroes
have not yet learned that they have duty
TO perform as citizens They assume that
| they have no chance for justice. and that
| therefore, the thing for them to do is 70
! stand on the defensive. A few well-chos-
en- words of advice from the leading ne
! groes at Daren would have satisfied the
negroes who had collected there from the
country, that the officers were desinous Of
doing only what seemed best TO prevent
! trouble. 1t may be that no one of then,
! thought of taking such course. and II
may be that such a course was not Aue-
gested to them by the white people. Anv-
way, nothing was done, aud a situation
that could have been easily handled If
! oil la,
way, was allowed to drift into the present
dangerous state of affairs.
The Governor has ordered quite a large
military force TO the scene of trouble in
pursuance of his policy 20 use his utmost
endeavors 70 prevent lynchlngs. and law
Icssness Of an kinds. If the negroes-tbc
best informed among them-wore half as
jealous In assisting TO uphold tho law ana
| preserve order as the Governor is "a nra
vent Wnchines. there would be a noticeable
! failuk off ia the number OF lynchings But
the negroes, when an opportunity presents
itscf TO array themselves on the side of
law and order are found on the Side of
the iawless. They are 80 largely in tha
majority at Darien that They could control
the situation there. Tor tho presoue.. 81
foops thcr. thoy arc responsible. Tho
soldi'ts were mot called out TO prevent a
.ynchins, but to preserve order among ne.