New-York tribune., 1903-04-17
.sy7prPToR WHITE CIVILIZATION"

lust as ex-Presideut Cleveland takes occasion
TO express his faith in the South's just dis
positfon toward the negro. and thoughful men
at the North join in applauding lis sentiments
TWO horrors occur which emphasize the duty OF
those conscientious leaders Of the South about
whom Mr.. Cleveland speaks to put down the
barbarous element the liberation OF Whlcn
tends to disprove the ability of the South to
deal fairly with the negro.
At Shreveport La mob seized, killed and
burned the body of q negro whom it guessed
might be guilty of a murder which had been
committed in the neighborhood- few hours
investigation under the forms Of Law, or mere
INQUIRY without them, would have established
the fact that he was absolutely innocent. he
was not even a disreputable negro, whose tax
ing of On general principles could seem eX-
cussble even to the most reckless dealer out in
good faith Of rough and ready justice he was
a good negro, a sober industrious, law-abiding
man. q stranger IN Shreveport, proved to have
been far away from there when the murder
was committed, who. in the lawful pursuit OF
bis own business. happened to come into the
neighborhood when a mob was raging about as
mad as any mack of dogs with rabies. AT
Jonlin Mo- negro tramp resisting arrest
killed q policeman He was taken and lodged
in iail In spite of all efforts Of the City At
torney. who promised that he should at once
be brought TO justice, a mob seized him. and.
after what is called a tug Of war on the
rope about his neck between the advocates OF
lynching and law, he was hanged Not con-
tent with having done Justice the white par
barians then made an attack on the negro sec
ton of the town, burning the houses OF lnno-
cent and peaceful blacks, in mere wanton saw
sgery.
This is the justice that the blacks can expect
in the present condition Of the South at any
time and at any place where passion happens
to be aroused. And yet we hear much about
the superior white civilization and the savage
instincts OF the blacks, which must be carefully
guarded against by keeping the race under foot.
We fully recognize that these outbreaks are not
the work of the whole South, but of the vicious
white element in ii. There are thousands of
men of light and leading there who feel dis
graced by such things. They want to see the
negro protected and treated justly although at
the same time they regard him as unfit for the
ballot. They have no sympathy with savagery.
but unless they put down savagery in their
communities, what pretensions they make
10 ability TO solve the negro problem justly,
though they be let alone ever so much! They
ask the power to solve the problem. Then
let them rise to their responsibility. Let them
protect the negro from murder Let them
prove that they have a white civilization TO
preserve if they would be intrusted TO fix the
status Of the negro for the sake of that cfv1llza
ton.
We do not blame the South for these crimes,
bur we do blame ii for toerating these crimes.
They are absolutely without excuse, and unless
the better elements can so far overcome their
fear of championing negro rights and their
determination to stand by their race. right or
wrong, as 10 guarantee to the peaceful blacks
protection Of their lives and property and fair
legal hearings Of actions against them. then
those elements have no right to claim considera-
ton in the national councils. If the barbarian
is 10 have free range to kill and burn. then the
nation must look upon the region as the home
of barbarisn and act accordingly.