Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1906-09-26
MR.. GRAVES ON THE SITUATION


his views upon the race question,
replied fully and at great length,
and In his usual forceful manner.
Mr.. Graves says in part:
''To the tranquil reader, look
ing on at great safe distance, it
seems an awful outrage against
civilization, and no thoughtful
citizen fails to deplore and CON
denim it.
"But if one of you who read had
lived for one week with the dear
women of your household under
the shadow and terror of this
crime, you would have found at
least an explanation for a lawless
revolution which cannot be legally
or morally justified.
"Do you ask how this riot can
be rebuked and this mob made
impossible for the future? I will
answer you frankly that it is like
ly to occur again.
"The silliest man in the South
is the time-serving statesman who
declares "that there is no race
problem, and the question, if left
alone, will settle ITSELF" The race
question is more impending aud
threatening now than it has been
in twenty years. The tension is
sharper, the antagonism deeper
between the races.
"The hope of a permanent agree
ment has slender foundation.
"The horror of Saturday has
doubtless left a blot on our civil
zation. Every good citizen in
Georgia will deplore and condemn
the indiscriminate slaughter. [
fervently deplore it.
"Bdt the outraged people had
tried every known remedy and
failed. And it will undoubtedly
clear the atmosphere and keep the
negro in order for five years to
come. They are already assuming
different tone. There may be
sporadic lawlessness, but the back
bone of insolent aggression is brok-
en- for a time, and there will be
fewer outbreaks, and more of
tranquility for long season.
"The men it will save in the
future will outnumber ten times
the men who were killed on Sat-
urday.
"The present riot is at an end.
The city is quiet tonight, the
streets are cleared, the military on
guard, the negroes are whipped
and humble, and there is no dan
ger apprehended anywhere.
"But the trouble may possibly
be reopened with another wave of
lustful crime next summer. When
ever there is provocation there Will
be the mob. The newspapers of
the North crucified me for saying
this at the the New York chau-
taUqua in 1908. I ask you if the
statement has not been vindicated
by events.
cit is demonstrated now that
lynch law does not entirely deter
the rapist. He is willing to die for
the having of his desire. But it
is vent to outraged society and
but for the mob there would be
ten assaults where there is one.
"WTong? Yes. Worthy of all con-
demnation? Yes. But the fact that
remains it is here, and here to
stay.
eve are studying rape now in
the South as the the scientist have
studied yellow fever and smallpox.
eve are looking for the germ.
Maybe we shall find the 'Stego-
myia Fasciata.' But until we do
the most law abiding section of
the entire Union in everything
else, will continue in the old-fash-
Toned way to lift the blood red
banner of the mob to protect the
lives and chastity of our women.
GLOW can you help us? BY civ.
ing two paragraphs to the denun-
citation of rape where you give one
to lynching.
"What is the ultimate end?
Separation of the races-the only
possible, logical, inevitable solu-
ton. These two opposite antagon-
isttc races can never live together
in the same government under
equal laws-never."