The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1905-03-31

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and President Woolsey. But when,
In your second interview, dictated by
yourself, you speak categorlcally of
the prevalence Of miscegenation in
the sonth," and this solely on your
own responsibility, you make charge
much graver than the one imputed to
you before, and you make it against
not alone South Carolina, but all the
southern. States.
BY "mtscegenation" I apprehend
you mean Illicit. intercourse between
the white and black races. You can.
not surely mean intermarriage. for
that is forbidden by law and maze
severely punishable in South Carolina
and other Southern States.
And where do you find AUTHORITY
Tor asserting that miscegenation. as
you understand it, is prevalent in the
SouthP I honestly Thought that
Bishop and Woolsey had misled Won
as to concubinage, but am at a loss
TO account for your astounding charge
as to the prevalence of miscegenation
IN the south. And yet you say YOU
simply remarked" it.
Bishop Potter, this will not do.
We OF the South demand that you
furnish us with your proofs of the
prevalence OF misc 'genation in the
south; or that, failing proof, you take
back what you said.
II you answer without reflsc tion or
research, you may glibly say that
your case Is proved by the large num-
Der OF mulattoes In the South. That
naturally gives color of truth to
your statement. But fair and can
did consideration OF the matter will
satisfy even you that this does not
justify your charge OF the prevalence
OF miscegenation in the south. l
concede that the slavery system to a
certain extent encouraged or brought
about miscegenation. But do know
that the influx Of northern men as
soldiers aud carpet baggers and adj
ventu:ers, from 1855 to 1876 or 1878,
made miscegenation far more preva.
lent then than 1t had been before or
ever has been since. The immortality
OF that Reconstruction period was
greater and grosSer than even you
would be willing to believe. And l
feel sure that you will be glad to
know tnat since the close OF that dark
period there has been a notable de-.
crease of what you Call mscagenation,
and that it is still manitestiy decreas
ing. SO much 80 that am sure that
If the offspring Of illicit intercourse
in the northern and western States
could be recognized by their color, as
In the Southern States, you would not
again speak OF the prevalence Of mis-
csgenation in the South.
l hold NJ brief for the purity Of
morals in the South; but just as sure
y as we have the poor always with
US, so surely We h I'VE In all countries
the impure always with US. Aud IL
must be borne in mind that while the
unfortunate women that represent
social evil In the north and in other
white mans countries are white VIZ.
men, In he sou h they are with very
few ,xceptions negro Or mulatto wo
men.
now come to the closing words Of
your dictated interview, wnere you
say OF the South, The poss OF lofty
OF superior vir1ue on the part Of its
| peope. anywhere, has in IL an ele
ment squa'iy comic and pa thetic."
Bu,-nO; l refrain fton com nenu.
Ing on this most unfortunate asper
| sion. l leave IL to she pubiic to pass
their Cwn jninment upon it. They
VIII see as readily and az regretfully
as 40 with what what filppa1 cy a
metrrp jliuan prelate-I had almost
said prlmate-hal sen tit to deal
with subject that demands from
llm, AZ from Us all, the most serious
and resp ctful consideration. 1t Will
'tls' grlevc ali good men 10 see how
eedle' SLY and sup rcllllously you
II mt wi:n wo d. OF rldicu!e the white
people OF thr oIthern States.
have the huuor to be, right lev-
arend sir, your most ubedieut servant
w q. BENET.