Fitzgerald enterprise., 1906-09-25

The Atlanta riot marks an epoch in the history
of this country. Nothing like i! has ever occur
ed since the first Africans were brought to New
England. But few people believed such thing
possible. Certainly no man knows what the
final result will be,
The proba bility is it has made many converts
to the Bishop Turner-John Temple Graves theo-
ry. The most remarkable thing about it is
that it occurred in the leading city of the black
belt, the capital of the Empire state of the south.
The terrible vengeance was but a natural Sc
quence, fearful penalty applied to race for
the horrible crimes perpetrated by the irrespon-
sible and vicious members of the ex-slave fam-
1y.
What will the north think of it? What will
the men who favored the political equality as
represented by the fourteenth and fifteenth
amendments say about it? What will those
who advocate social equality say about it?
After all what does it matter what they think or
say? Southern white women must be protected
aud horrible as was the Atlanta riot, its cause
must be understood and taken into the calcula-
ton in every discussion of its cause and effect.
In the meantime what are we going to do to
protect southern womanhood?
History does not record anything like it.
81
Returning recently from his travels in Afri-
ca DR.. Werner brought with him Jyrug Bush
man whose name is Oto Benga aud whom he
turned over to the director of the New Y York 70
illogical garden for temporary custody" Ben
ga was at once put into a cage with ourang-
otang named Dohang According to the ac-
count before us, Benga enjoys his quarters
nol.z.a 4ac.0 A1aA~1s Il
wo boys, "chattering in way to indicate that
they have very good understanding" We are
told that B9ngas delight in his position is shar-
ed by New York sight-seers-that is, those
who have white skins. The negro specta-
tors are not pleased and several negro preachers
have Indignantly protested. Apparently they
are of the opinoa that there are times when,
after all, race discrimination is virtue. They
would draw the 1ine at Dohang and rescue Benga
from such communicating association The issue
of the interesting episode is not yet reported.
Judge Frank Harwell, of Lagrange, candi-
date for the court of appeals is judge of the city
court of Lagrange and has made splendid re-
cord in that Office. He is an A. M graduate of
the University of Georgia and man of fine
character. He is backed by the bar of his cir
cult and many friends over the state.
Atlanta sowed to the wind and reaped the
whr1wind. There has never been any excuse
for her Decatur street condition. The seeds of
riot and destruction have been multiplying there
for years.
At it's meeting in Hot Springs last week
the executive committee of the Southern Cotton
Association exonerated Secretary Richard
Cheatham Of the charge of dealing in cotton
futures for his own account and denounced the
intent of his accusers. The resolution declares:
THAT while all forms of speculation are
disapproved of, yet the mmittee finds that
Cheatham was acting only for other parties and
in view of the fact that there is nothing in the
constitution which makes person incom petent
to hold office because he deals in futures, and
because of Mr.. Cheatham's . efficiency and of the
fact that we believe the assaults on Cheatham
came from the enemies of this association, we
dismiss the charges as unworthy of considera-
ton, and denounce all charges made against Mr..
Cheatham, except what is hereinbefore stated
as false.
THAT in the future it shall constitute an
ofense against this association for any officer or
member of the executive com mittee or state
officer to in any way deal in futures, and any
one violating this shall be expelled from Office.
The report, which is signed by committee
composed of L. B. Irwin, E. D. Smith and L. E.
Love, was adopted.
Thus fails an effort of enemies of the cot
e c., NoI&o Az.