The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-08-26
CIVILIZATION NORTH AND SOUTH

The Washington Post Of the 22nd con-
tanned h editorial given below under
the above head line which We commend
to our readers. The Post is an indie
pendent paper-independent in politics
and in thought and in it's manne of
criticising the action Of public men and
h conduct of people of the different
sections. 1t comes nearer knowing no
Iarty- or section of tnc country than
any other paper paper published in the
United States. Hence an editorial Of
this character in it's columns is entitled
to exceptional consideration. The last
paragraph shows the unbiased attitude
of the paper. 1t says.
When our esteemed Chicago con-
temporarieS shall have quite concluded
their TRADES against the south because
OF the inhuman treatment occasionally
visited upon criminals there,
perhaps they will favor us with their
views as to the treatment which Chi
ago visits upon negroes who are not
criminal In our pres, rcport publish
ed Sunday morning appeared this
item:
ALLEN Cotton, a eOiored strike
breaker, was found unconscious in the
stock yards today with his eyes lac
Grated until his sight had been de-
stroyed. The right eye was practically
gouged out and the man was bleeding
~profusely. 1t is believed thai he is also
suffering from a fracture of the skull.
The Police took him to the hospital"
POSSIBLY the negro "strike- breaker"
In Illinois may be a more detestable
creature than the rarist or assassin in
Georgia. Possibly Allen Cotton richly
deserved his fate. But unless it be
unlawful in the former state to work
for ones living, at least the Chicago
victim had violated no statute. A
'strike-breaker," as we understand it.
is a man who tries to earn an honest
livelihood by accepting employment
which others have voluntarily, r%enounc-
ed. ALLEN Cotton's ~offense, therefore.
consisted in that pursuit of liberty and
happiness which is guaranteed to all by
the constitution of the United States.
Yet the police found the negro lying
insensible in the stock yards with his
skull crushed and his eyes gouged out
"a rather unpleasant spectacle, we
should say, in a highly civilized con,
munity whose opponents are somewhat
over fond of denouncing barbarism at
a distance.
The Cotton case is only typical. 1t
stands for many, no only in 1llionis
but throughout the north. And while
lU,UUU SlII1lldr performances WOulu not
palliate the Statesboro infamy of last
week. the incident must inevitably
suggest a comparison of the two civil
iZations-one under which a negro~fs
burned at the stake for numbering a
whole family and the other under
which a negro is tortured for trying to
earn his daily bread. AS no victim Of
either process has yet returned from
the other world to bear testimony in
the premises, we cannot speak with
authority as to their relative horrors.
In a general way, however, we should
say that both are painful, n we know
that both usually result in death.
What seems to US the really important
consideration bearing upon the present
inquiry is that of the ~provocation upon
which the Georgia negIo ana the lii
nois negro were, respectively, put to
torture. Civilizations must be apprais-
ed by the standard of their fruits,
giving due weight, of course, to the mo-
tives and ideals that happen to be dis
closed in the course of the investiga-
ton, and, so ~appraising the two in
question, We respectfully appeal to the
tribunal of the humane, enlightened
and substantial elements of the ia
ton.
The Post holds. no commission from
the south as its defender. We know
enough, however, Dol that section
it's people, it's ideas. and it's purposes,
to warrant US in saying that such 4
comparison as we suggest will be en-
tirely welcome.