Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1904-04-01

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no other civilized people.
The Southern Protective League, OF
ganiZed by our wisest men, and ad
ministered with justice and firmnes
will be the most effective auxiliary II
such an enterprise. The plan is alto
gether practicable. Under far NOR
difficult and dangerous circumstance
with the countrysfilled with clouds o
victorious and exasperated soldiers
with four millions of slaves turned
loose from all responsible ties and de
llberately fed with the most extrava
CANT hopes, and irritated by the mos1
malignant Misrepresentation of the
abuses to which they had been subject
ed-wlh civil government in ruins
the people of the south were confront
ed with the most desperate problem q
brave people has ever faced. The ques
tion was, how to secure life, property,
and the sanctities Of home under such
conditiOns9 They did it, and the ex.
pedient adopted was the most brilliant
exhibit Of genius for government prob
ably ever exhibited in the history of
the world. Its real idea was simply
the organization of the people. What
has been done once, can be done again.
There is no necessity now for the cloud
of mystery and silence which existed
then. But the principle is as effective
now with totally different methods, as
1t was then. Now the question is, shall
we protect our homes effectively or
not? 1t is a suggestion. looking not
to the punishment, but to the preven-
ti0n of crime to the greatest possible
extent. Have the people the moral
force to accomplish that end? To
flame into fury when one of these aw-
full crimes is committed. take ven
geance on the particular criminal, and
then leave the way open for a similar
crime to be committed, is reproach to
the manhood of the southern people.
They ought not to rest until every
home and every country residence,
public road and woodland path are as
safe for our. wives and daughters. as
they were when this population where
the happiest peasant population on the
globe. Is there enough of the old Writ
ue of the land left, after so many years
of repression, to accomplish work SO
noble and 80 necessary
The last advantage 1 shall notice
springing out of the conception under
discussion is that it will enable pres
sure to be brought to bear on the
whole negro population. They are and
should be held responsible in certain
effectial degrees for the crime COM
mitted by one of their race. The next
perpetrator of one of these horrid acts
of barbarous cruelty, is now hidden in
the mass. The fact makes every one
of US, male and female. look with sus-
plcion on every negro we meet. 1t is
the righteous principle recognized In
the Second Commandment of the Dec.
alogue growing out of the principle of
association, and is found applied to ev-
cry species of association in which
men are found. 1t is established in the
family by natural'procreation and the
children of drunkard share in the
produced by the fathers
vice. A church is discredited by the
faults of its members a Masonic order
bears the reproach of an unworthy as
sociate: the individual members of
nation are driven out of a country with
which their own nation is at war. The
crime which has horrified our COM
munity did not only afflict our unfort-
unate neighbors but every member IF
the white race, not only in RoaLoke
city, but far and wide through the
state and the country. Why then
should the body of the negroes claim to
be exempt from all liability for the
brutal violence of their race? Are the
white race to grOan all over this land
because of their race connection with
each other, they did not personally
take part in and the negroes be exempt
because the villaiuy? DO they not
prepare the way for such acts OF say.
age retaliatisn, by their perpetual com.
plants Of injury-as for instance be.
cause they are not admitted into the
social precincts of our families, or be.
cause a political franchise which they
knew not how to use with safety to
the common veal has been taken away?
The association of men which carries
a mutual responsibility is designed to
promote the welfare Of all its members.
This it will inevitably do, if the moral
law which prescribes the duty of each
member as Obeyed. But if that law is
broken each member will suffer by the
fault of his associate. Whose fault is
that a? Is it the fault of the principle
which has SO jointed these associates,
that the fault of one will tell upon all
who are connected with him Or is it
the fault of the faithless associate who
has broken the law which regulated
the association and would have made
it a blessing The negro race are sub
ject to the operation of this univers sal
principle. recognized in the very letter
of the moral law and imbedded In ey-
cry association in which men are found.
The negro has shown most unhappy
inclination to cODdone and belittle the
crimes of their race, and especially
those in which the females of the white
race suffer from the violence of black
men. If they are made to understand
that they will suffer from these crimes
as the whole white race do, they may
be led to wiser as well as u more
creditable point of view. Every con
sfderation of honor. prudence, and ab
sOlute necessity to the welfare of tbeil