The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-08-28


The northern papers, as q rule, are
gracefully taking a dose OF their own
medicine in the matter of the New
York riot of Wednesday night Even
the most rabid OF the south's critics are
disposed to look upon the attack on
the negroes. almost in Broadway, as
an outburst Of passion that is listle 10
occur almost anywhere. under certain
circumstances. and they are awaiting,
as one Of them avs Southern COM
menr on this incident" II is safe TO
say, however, that Southern COM
ment" Will be confined to calling atten-
ton to the facts that such outbursts
OF feeling are not confined to one par
ticular section. and that when such
authorities have always. inst7ai o.
aiding, done their utmost 10 suppress
them.
The New York. Mail and Express,
which wait Southern comment
and which has been one OF the most
violent of the south's critics. very
frankly says: New York Is today at
the mercy OF New Orleans. The race
lot precipitated by an army OF white
men in the very heart Of this city last
night finds no parallel in local history
since the bloody days or SO. when New
York was placed under marIhal law.
1t was crying disgrace TO that civili-
cation which arraigns southern treat
ment Of the negro; a humiliation to ne
first community in the land. where the
civil and political rights of the coforei
man nave for a generation been jeai-
ously defended. II was a performance
so astounding as 70 BE- well-nigh in
conceivable" The Mail and Express.
however. makes the mistake OF imagin-
ing that such an outbreak is well
nigh inconceiYable," because Ii hap
pens TO be IN New York. It is no more
inconceivable in New York than in
Louisiana.
The New York Evening Post, an in
dependent journal. seems ~ under
stand the situation when II says: 1T
was a discredit to the city, and New
York would undoubtedly be dispraceG
by far worse race riots II the negro
element were as large a factor in the
population as 1t Is in New Orleans
The New York Commercial Adver-
tiSer, a republican riga in casting
around for some argument, in paliation.
thinks that the negro quality had lit
tie to do with 1t. If the murderers
have assailed all "dagoes" with no less
fury. Imagine" it remarks, what
would have been that fury II the as
sailants had been ChirGmen.'
The Philadelphia Ledger is. very
properly. of the opinion that the race
riot in New York on Wednesday even
ing was as fierce and unreasonable as
any that have occurred in southern
cities" "A lesson in tolerance" is he
way the New York Journal heads its
comment, and asserts that the riots
will teach that there is only n gen
eral type of human nature in America,
not two types divided by sectional
lines" The New York World also Sees
in the riot AN object Lesson TO broad
mindedneSS."
There is one exception to these can
did EXPRESSIONS on the part of the
northern journals, many others of
which on the same lines.
That is the New York Tribune which
has been one of the most rabid Of
south-hating newspapers. The Tribune
says practically nothing, probably be
cause it feels sheepish. It dismisses
the affair ~editorially with this queer
paragraph: "A real, live niger hunt
in New York What a sweet boon 10
the thugs, thieves and pimps of the
tenderloin! The morbid lust for blood,
Characteristic Of degenerates of the
Jack h Ripper type. was gratified to
gorging." The Tribune's statement
would indicate that New York has a
class that is somewhat worse than is
found in any other part of the country.
However, the tone of northern COM
ment on the New York riot indicates
that the northern cities are beginning
to see things in the proper light, and
to realize that, while lawlessness is TO
be condemned wherever found, there
is no particular section which is aff1ict-
ed with a surplus of it.-Savannah
News.