The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1911-04-11

pulsation Of their existence from the
time when ! was little child down in
the old quarters listening to the old
ghost stories and children's stories Of
Br'er Rabbit and Br'er Fox, stories of
ignorance and superstition until late in
the night and so frightened by them
that some one would have TO 90 back
with me 20 the big house" or al lea -
until / passed the thicket of bushes on
the road side. Then ] grew. toiled by
their side. toiIed between the plow
handles, beneath the blazing sun Of
this tropical climate, joined in the
chorus with their matchless voices in
Old plantation songs, and chased the
old cotron-tai rabbit on moonlight
nights with the negro boys, ran away
from home 10 20 swimming with them
on Sundays in the old ponds of the
country. gratided TO hear them tell a
big story 10 my parents 10 save me q
good trouncing for my absence.
When | was a child | spake a A
child, understood a child, | thought
as a child; but when I became a man l
put away childish things" So it was
when l grew into manhood. assuming
the responsibilities Of citizenship. and
more perfectly bringing me face to
AS1SC y" -~4A <iiS 60 pOi4S4 les ing oii
me in common with the other white
people of the South in dealing with the
negro.
Almost unconsciOusly I find myself
drawn into active participation in pro-
viding ways and means from the pock-
cts Of the white people to better quail
ify the negro for citizenship, providi ing
for him schools. buildings. equipment
for his education and for years sharing
the responsibility of the duties of
trustee for their school.
From this sphere of cOmmingling
with them and for almost fifteen years
/ have presided over the criminal
courts of this state in one of the thick
est negro belts in this commonwealth.
viewing him from the criminal side of
his nature. Not in a spirit of egotism
or of boastfulness, but as proof of at
least an opportunity TO know, you viii
pardon a few instances of personal
matter, that you may know that what
may say. while not wholesome TO YOU
furnishes the highest proof of my
kindly disposition and attitude toward
the negro. and evidence OF an oppor-
tunity to know him and his needs
On one occasion in Ocala / stood in
front of an assembled mob Of indig-
nant and outraged people and begged
that they would exercise f0rbearance
and patience toward black brute who
had attempted a criminal assault on a
lovely, pure and defenSeless white girl
at South Lake Weir. | was listened TO
with respectful demeanor, but without
avail, for not many hours had passed
when the Jail was stormed and his
form soon dangled from the end of a
Sh
tree near the old cemetery in Ocala
Here would l pause to say, just so long
as these acts of lawlessness and Grim
inal assaults are made by negroes on
white women, it is certain that just
such results will follow. 1t is the
merest folly to talk to a spirited, chiy-
alrous, noble, honor preserving white
man of the South to let the law take
its course, when such matters occur
The delays of the law are too tedious
and uncertain for them TO brook such
a condition.
Again, when as presiding judge of
the circuit court upon the trial of ne
gro in an adjoining county who had
committed most foul and cOwardly
murder upon an unOffending white
man, without the least provocation
and amongst people who are as brave
and noble IS any man that trods the
earth, but when aroused and especial
ly by race prejudice, there is no limit
to which they will not go, in order to
protect him from the fury of this out
ragged assembly of white men and
amidst the clank and clatter of two
hundred Winchester rifles and the wild
cry of lynch him. lynch him! I hand
cuffed myself TO his manacled wrist.
and by slight deception under the pre-
text of leading him to the place for