Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1908-04-08
"wENT OFF HALF COOKED"
A Moral and Sensible View of the
Helm Incident.
(From Columbia State. J

(From Columbia State.)
We are agreeably surprised to note
that cur esteemed Northern contem-
poraries seem to have refused to get
excited over the shooting OF g negro
in Washington by a Southern Con-
gressman. 1t appears that after all
the incident is not to assume ma
tional proportions.
The ARRAY illustrates, II 1T illus
trates anything at all, but two points.
The first Is, the disposition, SO often
manifested, OF Southern me n to
take the settlement of these matters
In his own hands. In the same "ir-
cumstances Northern man would
have simply called the police. 1t Is
this difference, the result of temper
ament, Inheritance, environment, or
something, that has done SO much to
give the south a bad reputation in
respect OF law and order. In just
such situation as Mr.. Hefiin found
himself, the Southerner for some
reason Is disposed to act for himself.
to set himself forward as the regu-
lator of manners that he deems to
other fellow behave himself, and If
he won't to fight him. The result is
only too often the same as in this
case: fists and then guns come into
play and the chances of funeral
before the matter is untangled are
usually bright. Law and order get o
black eye, and the turbulence and
lawlessness of the Southerner be-
come the subject of editorial lament
and Justly so.
They order these things better in
'he North, where there is ke oner
anxiety to make the officers Of the
| ~. Nyx~,,N I,>
man argues that the police are there
to do just this sort of yeoman SER
vice, and when trouble begins he
oalls an officer; the unruly one being
duly impressed with the majesty Of
brass buttons quietly submits, Is led
away, and everything and everybody
settle down comfortably again. The
Northern man is practical and sensi-
Gle. 1t Is a great pity that the South
erner cannot be got to accept the
same calm view of these wayfaring
incidents; it would save much trou-
ble and occasion less blood-spillin.,.
The Hefiin incident serves too to
direct attention once more to the
fact that Washington is a city in
which the Southerner has a hard
time keeping his temper. Thanks to
the strong streak of bumptiousness
that runs through negro character
as rule, and which causes him to
mistake equality" for the right to
make himself obnoxiously conspicu-
Gus and self-assertive, the capital of
this nation has become place Of
frequent irritation to the man Of
Southern "prejudices." or course
there are plenty of negroes in Wash
ington who behave themselves like
other people and are content to at
tend to their own business. On the
other hand there is no city in the
world where another class Of negroes
is NOR, offensive and insolent, as Is
evidenced in this very case in which
| Mr.. Heflin interfered.
However, we trust that the next
time anything Of the sort comes un-
der his notice, the Alabama Con-
gressman will be content to call the
police. He should remember the un-
fortunate fate Of the Brownsville
marksmen and refrain from "shoot-
ing up the town, and incidentally
"pinking' the unfortunate "innocent
| byctaodor -