The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-09-26

Race troubl es that have been known to b
In q volcanic state for sometime In Atlant
eliminated In a bloody riot. beginnin
Saturday the % and lasting for the create
part of three days.
1t IL difficult 10 learn anything accuratel.
ofthe number killed. The daily papers frs
stated that fifteen were killed and abou
forty seriously wounded some OF whom
would likely die. Later advicis. put tn
number killed at six, and the wounded q
forty or fifty. There seems to be some doub
as the corrections Of the latter statement, 70
in the first report there were five or 81!
named and several others unidentified Re
ported killed. There is q rumor that th
dead are many times six or even fifteen. ant
II 10 said 10 have come from those who wer
in Atlanta, but as 1t did not come first hant
II is simply give n for what II is worth.
With this terrible tragedy enacted at ou
very doors 1t is pertinent 10 seek the underly
ing cause.
Ofcoursc the immediate cause WAS crimina
assault on white women by four negroes. II
one day. not to mention half dozen Of
more committed In Atlanta within the pas
month.
This was quite enough to stir the blood Of
the white meu OF the city TO fever heat and Il
bring down vepgenoe upon the heads Of thu
perpetrators OF The deed, but does 1t sum
ciently account for the wholesale murders
committed? We think not.
1t Is q law as Interchangeable and as inexorao b
"a the flaws OF the Medes and Perslans'
that the bruit who puts his vile hands on the
Southern white woman with criminal inten,
will fol felt his life Tor the deed; and lynchine
will stop on ly when The crime ceases. Each
indi vidual when he brings this matter home
TO himself knows that all the newspaper
chatter about letting the law take its course
10 but so much bosb. The instinct TO protect
the weaker sex by the most effective, OF the
most drastic measures, is as general as the
human race, and u bove man made laws.
The avenger may be punished but other.
will rise up TO take his place. But to recur to
the promiscous killing that OF laie years toe
frequently follows an assault. What Is the
cause?
1t lies in growing antipathy for the COL
ored race, for which the better element OF
that race is not responsible, but for which
they suffer alike with the worthless class.
Negro children are raised mp In idleness
and insoience instead OF being taught tt
earn living by labor in country where few
other avenues Of business are open 10 them
In The North more than in the South negroes
are confined almost exclusively to manual
labor and the sooner the race realizes as a
whole that this Is the cencition, and the
sooner young negroes are taught 10 work In
stead OF idling about streets the DETER Tor the
race.
There are OF course notable exceptions
where negroes have In large measure over
come the natural difficulties under which
they labor, but these cases only serve as q
snare and detusion TO the masses OF the race.
Making local application OF the principle
In Abbeville where the great majority o.
col ored women can not live honestly withou,
labor, large per cent. are content to live In
idleness and the few who are willing to work
prescribe the rules under which they viii
work.
1.-THE white people have the independence
to require reasonable work for reasonable pay
they may expect after the first week has been
paid for TO get message that scme aunt OF
distant cousin OF the servant Is sick and tha,
she, the servant, will have to 60 to see her;
and that is the last OF that one. This samt
story is repeated and repeated until the
white people are exasperated and disgusted
It is this unreIiability and utter disregard o.
truth in many OF the race that calls forth the
disgust OF the white race and unfortunately
censures the deserving negroes along With
the worthless rabble. The better negroes
should themselves frown down on and con
denim the worthless element