The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-09-05
Plain Words to Negroes.

nent ought to have lnclU0ed III their
address a rectal of their detestation
of the hideous crimes Of the negro
race. which make the race feared
and hated wherever there is a lonely
homestead in a negro community
and should have concluded with a
solemn pledge to consecrate the in
telligent men of the race to perSis-
tent effort to eradicate the evil which
IS the prime source Of the sunreason-
ing prejudice against the negro
When intelligent men like those IN
the Niagara movement show the in
telligence to grapple with this ques-
ton in behalf Of the two races, their
demands for other things will meet
with a respectful hearing Which will
astonish tfem.-Phila delphia Ledger,
This advice from a Northern news
paper may we'll be taken to heart by
the better class Of negroes in all Sec
IL.
are preaching a crusade against
lynching, and they would be success
full if the black brutes would cease
their devilish practice. But, so long
as they keep it up, white men Will
lynch them in spite Of all the preach
ing, and it will be next to impossible
to convict and punish the lynchers.
The Times-Dispatch is opposed to
lynching for any crime, knowing, as
it does, that lynching for one crime
leads to lynching for other crimes,
breeds contempt Of law and the spirit
of ,lawlessness, and makes a bad mat
ter worse. But the majority Of men
throw argument to the winds when
brought face to face with this crime.
They may give respectful hearing to
the governor Of the State who pleads
with them, but they will not give
heed. So long as this crime is COM
mitted by negroes lynching will con-
tinue. These may not be pleasant
facts, but they are facts, and facts
must be reckonea with.
What is the negro race going to do
about it? The question is asked with
all possible seriousness, for it is
question which concerns the whole
negro race. Every such crime re-
fleets in a measure upon the black
race, and places every negro man,
more or less, under suspicion. The
most fendish crime Of this nature
ever known in virgian was committed
by a negro janitor in the public
schools Of Lynchburg, who was high
ly esteemed by teachers and pupils,
who enjoyed the implicit confidence
Of the superintendent. It is not meant
to imply, of course, that all negro
men are liable to commit this crime.
Many of them are as far from it as
white men, But, when SO many are
guilty, how can the whites discrini-
nate?
It is a, terrible situation for the
black race, and they must reckon
with it. Once more we commend to
the leaders of the negro race, those
who are genteel and who would lead
their people to higher things, the ad-
vice of the Philadelphia Ledger. In
stead Of passing resolutions condemn
ing lynchings, At them address them
selves to the luse ,of it, and make
an earnest and persistent effort to
eradicate it. It should be the pre-
vailing topic of sermons, Of lectures,
and all manner of discourses by negro
speakers; and teachers Of negro boys
should hammer into their pupils, day
after day, the enormity of this crime.
BY these means, and by all possible
means, the respectable negroes should
make a crusade against the infamy,
and endeavor with the help Of God
and the help Of the law to stamp 1t
out. Ie they succeed, lynching will
cease: if the practice is continued, not
only will lynching continue, but the
very existence of the negro race will
:. :no.or5,, D;cb,,oond Times