The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1906-06-07

the other from those who established
their first colonies on principles of
justice and equality, considering
humanity as brotherhood having like
capabilities, interests and destinies.
1t would be disappointing to those
who have been overridden by wealth
and rank and have come here hoping
for freedom IN its broadest sense to
find themseles settled among worse
conditions than obtained in their home
land beyond the sea. To bring in
skilled laborers will be to put them
in direct competition with the best
class of negro population who are the
teachers and leaders of their race and
in whom centers the only hope of an
amicable settlement between the
races. The large number already
qualified for the various branches of
skilled labor is being constantly aug
mented by colored students coming
from colleges, Industrial schools and
apprentice shops, entering all the
trades and pushing into the profess
sions doing themselves real credit. 1t
would seem that justice. reason and
self interest would dictate that these
men and women struggling for at
tainment and usefulness in their home
land should be given room and pre-
ference over immigrants from king
governed countries. We will not dis
cuss the character of those who may
accept homes in the black belt of the
South under present conditions when
the great generous states of the North
and West are before them with open
arms of welcome and assurance of
competence and protection.
Every lynchlng, hanging or roast
ing of a negro is an advertisement to
the world of the humanity and
barbarity of those who do those things
as we'll as of the conditions that
prompt such atrocities. Will self
respecting people seek such society
from choice? If correct in our opinion
this scheme to supplant the negro by
white foreigners will be as unsuccess-
full as the experiment of permitting
the demons of Gadara to go into the
swine. The santanic spirits did not
mix we'll with hog nature and the
ferment that followed resulted in
great loss. To us the negro problem
is the most serious one that confronts
the nation. Other questions may be
overcome and settled bv forces now
at work. This fire is continually fan
ned by both races. 1t cannot be settl-
ed as political question. The party
who claims to be the people and with
whom ''doubtless wisdom shall die"
have wrestled with this question forty
years and now confess their failure
with everv lynching and by spending
large money through immigration
commissioners to bring foreigners to
their aid. Lynchings are not only
demoralizing but reveal moral corrup-
ton already existing. The ignorance,
superstition and moral pollution of the
white are as much to be deplored as
the sufferings of the other. We cen
sure the dominant race more for fos-
tering and boasting if their corrupt
principles had for lynchings which
are the eruptions of an inward disease.
On the other hand there is a limit
to human forbearance. God alone has
the patience of Eternity. Perhaps
with some provocation northern citi-
zens might be excited to acts of VIC
lence. What is common to humanity
cannot be foreign to them. We are
reasoning along the line of a Tennessee
jury who closed murder trial with 8
verdict of guilty" which they modi.
fed by adding" We don't guess jim
done the shooting but allow he would
done it if he mad the chanct'
The disgraceful affair recently enact
ed at Springfield, Mo. had its counter.
part in spirit in an Ohio town just /:
little before, an immense crowd will
guns and clubs battered negro quar-
tiers not for the crime of outrage bu
because of petty quarrel in rail
, road yard. People Of the free state
r should guard we'll the honor and eff
cheney of our schools and courts O.
justice. Every judge whose judgmen
+ is warped by bride or prejudice ever.
, lawyer or legal officer who shields ;
criminal from justice and all VIII
t unjustly criticise courts and destro
, the confidence of people in the stroni
f arm of the law for the protection o
the commonwealth, exert an influenc
$ tending to bring about the state o
i lawlessness now existing in the Sout
, which we so abhor and condemn.
; j. o. Pettis.
q Low Rates to San Francisco and L0
4 Angeles.
i. Vic tho North Noctorp inc A