The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-06-04
sEEINo THrNos AFAR DEE.

The Chicago Tribune occupies a some
what unique position in Journalism. In
many respects 1t IL singuiariy fair In
its treatment Of political and sectional
questions. 1t is really opposed to the
protective tariff system, though for Party
reasons 1t dares not advocate the Demo-
cratic theory. In various other respects
1t Is one Of tho fairest of all the Re-
publican newspapers, but we are often
surprised at the contrast It exhibits in
discussing matters relating to the South.
Whenever The Tribune sees the word
negro" it commences to buck The red
rag to the bull is nothing to the effect
the negro ha son their paper. Whether it
is really ignorant of the conditions exist
ing in the South, and knows nothing
about those conditions and the causes
which produced them, or whether it
naturally takes delight in abusing and
misrepresenting this section, is lard to
tell. but the fact remains that It can
always find something to criticise and
condemn.
The act of Governor Davis of Arkansas
has afforded The Tribune text for many
lay sermons, and it has not allowed any
questions Of fairness. or any limitations
Of latitude to curb Its fancy. So far as
the Davis act itself in concerned we are
as little disposed to defend 1t IS The
Tribune is, but We do not regard 1t as the
act of the South or the Southern people,
nor do we admit that this entire section
should be held responsible for it. Therein
we differ from The Tribune very
materially.
One Of the excuses offered by Davis
for his ill-advised executive act was that
the Northern people were primarily
responsible for slavery in the South. and
that they were also responsible for the
freedom of the former slaves. which lat
ter act was the prime cause Of whatever
trouble may now exist down here. Re-
ferring to this The Tribune says:
This silly bsbble about the negro, with
its incoherent reasoning and conclusions,
might safely be left to any school boy
to answer. But, assuming that all he so
gravely puts forward 10 correct, what
DtdTlIlS uOeS IL nave upOt tHc QuGStIOu.
Surprising that one generation bought
slaves and sold them in the South ard
another generation liberated them, what
has that to do. with the question et fair
treatment of the negro. of his right to a
fair trial when charged with crime, In the
refusal of which Arkansas has always
been a prominent offender, and If the rule
of the law and preservation OF order in
stead of the rule of the mob and the
encouragement of disorder?
While it is true that the present genera
| ton of Northern people Is not rrsponsi-
| BILE for the negro being caddled Oh the
| South it is certainly true that some of
this generation, and the Republican
Party, are responsible for the conditions
which have caused all the trouble. Max
ing the negroes free and arming them
with the ballot was the cause OF all the
trouble in the South, and while I'LL the
people of the North must not re held
responsible for the wrong tho knowledge
that 1t was the act of Northern Republic
cans ought to close their mouths and
make them more tolerant when they come
to discuss such real wrongs as are some
times committed in this section. They
should hold their tongues. partly be-
cause their own section is primarily res
ponsible for the trouble and partly be-
cause they themselves are ..ot fee from
criticism when the question CT the
negro's treatment is up for discussion.
In fact. we are not sure that we are
not justified in saying that on the whole
the colored people receive Latter treat.
ment In the South than they do IL the
North.
We know that papers like The Tribune
have much to say about fair treatment
of the negro" and they always pcint
away down South to find examples q
unfair treatment. apparently Obvious o.
the fact that man with a black skin Ii
not accustomed to a bed of roses Ncrti
of the line. If they are not always wei
treated here 1t is no defence fGr us t.
say that other sections do no better. blu
we do say that some of our critics ant
judges should use broom witha shorte
handle, and clean some of the mud from
their own premises before reaching dow
| to sweep our door-ways. me Tiitun
Is often exceedingly fair In its trsatmen
of public questions, but loses all of !
when the negro in the South Is mention
ed Let 1t put on some Jhort-rang
glasses and thus be enabled to see neare
home.