Pine Bluff weekly herald., 1900-01-27
LET NO GUILTY MAN ES-
CAPE.
(Memphis Commercial J

.
in this state recently against the
causeless taking of human life, and
against that class of white outcasts
who, whenever there is any excite
ment abroad, think it is incumbent
on them to got out and ''kill a few
niggers."
1t is this class of whites that
brings disrepute upon the people OF
the south, and that causes the Grace
wars" of which we hear so much.
The reputable white people of the
south should make it plain that they
will be misrepresented by these ruff
fans and outlaws no longer. There
are some bad negroes in this sec
ton, but as a rule the law is abund-
antly able to take care of them. The
great mass of the negroes are peace
ful and well-disposed, and the bet
ter class of white people have an in
disputable kindly feeling for them.
The negro is a necessity in the
south. He suits the people, and he
suits the conditions. 1t is desirable
that the relations between the two
races should be amicable, and it is
incumbent on white men to see that
innocent negroes are not murdered
for offenses they never committed,
and that deserving negroes are pro-
tected from the wanton assaults of
irresponsible tOughs. The killing
OF three innocent negroes in this
state recently because two guilty ne
groes had committed murder ought
to arouse the people of the state.
The Tenneseeans are a manly and
just people. They abhor such un-
necessary crimes, and they must
unite to put stop to them. If in
nocent negroes can be killed with
impunity here, it is bound to have
a bad effect upon the race generally.
The well-behaved negro will soon
begin to see that his good conduct is
no protection to him, and that he is
IN just as much danger as the muir
derer and the rapist. After while
he may say that he might just as
well be a criminal as to be punished
for being one. A sullen hatred of
the whites will naturally be engen-
dered, and genuine race war
would not be improbable. We un-
derStand that two of the men who
killed the negro Williams near Som
erville have been arrested; and the
authorities there seem to be deter
mined to do their duty, and investi-
gate the transaction which re suited
IN the death Of a man who was sim
ply walking the highway. We do
not care to PREJUDICE the case in any
way, but it is to be hoped that
Judge Flippin and his attorney
will probe to the bottom of
the matter. The men arrested do
not seem to have been acting under
from the sheriff. They
appear to have been self-constituted !
and we must say the story
told in their behalf has a very |
gauzy look. There is no doubt that |
they killed an innocent negro. and |
the law should require them to make
out a clear case Of self-defense. We |
should be glad to know that there
vas some justification for their fir
ng upon Williams, but if there was
not, we see no reason why the full
penalty Of the law should not be
neted out to them.
Praise God, from whom all blessings
flow;
Praise Him all We negroes here
below;
Praise Him. loudly, ye black host;
Praise also our good southern white
folks.
If you will stop the thugs, toughs
nd murderers from burning us,
anging us and shooting us without
Ndge or jury, we will work for you
nd vote with you and love you with