The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-07-22

- IT TO LAUGHf
The news from Vermont which was
printed in Tho Advertiser wednesday
morning 10 OF a character to attract
attention. Il would be really amusing
were It not that there may be Sc
rious outcome before an Is said and
done. Readers whose memory goes
back to older times have not forgot
ten that Vermont in the ante-war Pc
Rod was a bubbling. seething region
OF aboiitionism, and that Burlington
was the crater. so to speak Of the In
tolerant anti-siavery sentiment. The
people up there loved the negro--at q
distancc-and hated the South.
But the vermonters knew little of
the negro at close range, and had
no desire to know. II was easy to
abuse the Southern people, to rant
and rave over the wrongs Of slavery
and to shed briny tears over the down.
trodden negro. but they knew prac~
tfcaiiy nothing OF the personality OF
the negro, and had no real desire to
learn by or through close acquaint-
ance. 1t was enough for them that
there were human beings held In siav-
cry; therefore the slaves must be lib
Grated and the masters exterminated u
need be. What was to be aone with
the emancipated slaves they neither
knew nor cared. to any great extent.
Now. when these theoretical negro
lovers learn that they are to have an
opportunity to fraternise with the race
at close range, 70 take them to their
homes and their bosoms. they are rais-
ing the very old Harry. To have
large detachment Of negro cavalry
quartered in their midst. and. OF all
places in the world, at Fort Ethan
Allen, is altogether too much for the
Green Mountain brethren. That 10
bringing the thing home to them In
way they don't like. ana they refuse
to be pacined.
What is TO be the outcome cannot
be foretold at this writing VIII the
Vermonters see the absurdity or their
position aud cease their objections to
having negro troops ouartered among
themY We doubt It. The inconssst-
ency Of their conduct doesn't seem TO
strike them, and they may carry their
resentment to a point that Will cause
serious trouble. 1t may become neces-
sary for the government TO send a de-
tnchment of white soldiers TO protect
the negroes--and then send some more
soldiers TO protect the guard. It may
even become needfui for the govern
ment TO rescind IT'S orders and send
the coiored troops elsewhere, though
we hardly see how that can be done
with credft.
Meanwhile, We OF the South may be
pardoned II we view the row with
some degree OF compiacency. II not
with real satisfaction. We have heard
ana read 30 much criticism, frequently
actual abuse. fnom New England peo-
pie about our alleged mfstreatnIenr OF
the negro that we can laugh at their
eboIiitIons Of dissatisfaction ana re-
sentiment. We would seriously object
TO having q regiment OF negro SOL
diers CHARTERED near Montgomery, for
we know that 1t would not be either
pleasant or safe, and don't want the
experiment tried, but We are rather
inclined to indulge in the hope that
the government will adhere to its de-
termination and send the soldiers to
Fort Ethen Allen. Let the vermoneers
have ample opportunity to study the
negro at close range and get a thor
ough knowledge of the race and their
qualities through personal contact.
Then perhaps they will abate some-
thing of their intolerance towards the
Southern people for alleged race preju-
dice.