The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1915-06-12

ever had SINCE. There never was q
time when there was actual physical
NEGRO domination" or even carpet
bagging domination, in any one of the
reconstructed states.
The play to which you refer, in
stead of being grounded on histori
cal facts" is grounded on historical
misrepresentation, without having 8
single actual fact as the basis of its
existence. It is fiction pure and
simple, painted from a diseased and
prejudiced imagination, with false
and deceptive background as basis
upon which to stand. Such a play
could not be otherwise than mischiev
GUS In it's inception and dangerous in
its results, even if the scenes depicted
were a truthful reproduction of actual
occurrences. But when it is or ought
to be a well known fact that the al.
legged scenes are pure fabrications
with not a single background Of truth
to support them, their production can
hardly be less than criminal. In the
main they are false. slanderous, and
malicious. They are calculated and
intended to engender and intensity
race prejudice and race hatred. In
the interest of peace, order, truth,
justice, and morality they should be
suppressed. No good can come but
much harm may result from them. It
IS, therefore, the duty of the authori-
ties to suppress them, just as they
would suppress any other nuisance
That is calculated to incite crime and
general disorder in the community.
In this connection allow me, as a
southern man, to say, and to say
whereof know, that there are lust
TWO classes of white people at the
south who keep this so-called race
problem constantly before the public.
The first class is composed of those
who commercialize race prejudice
simply for the dollars and cents they
can make out of it. The second class
is composed of those who utilize race
prejudice for the purpose of securing
political distinction and official recog-
milton which they could never secure
through any merit of their own. It
makes no difference with these people
how much harm to the public or in
justice is done to any people or race
as long as they can accomplish the
purpose desired. They know there is
not particle of truth in ANYTHING
tney say or produce relative to this
matter. But what difference does
that make to them? The office seek
er hnds that this is his best paying
political asset. What is the use, then.
OF considering or discussing the tariff,
the financial, or any other subject or
question as long as this mythical race
question will answer the purpose ?
they find that this is the one cues.
ton upon which they can hold the
white men of the south in abject DO
lltlcal subsection and upon which the
average white man at the north can
De easily fooled and deceived. AS
long, then, as the country believes,
as you seem to believe, that these
tn1ngs are true and that public senti-
ment must tolerate them and approve
methods that are criminal and prac-
tees that would be otherwise indie.
fenslble for the purpose of preventing
Negro domination" just so long will
this state of affairs continue. Let MS
nope that the eyes of the people will
eventually be opened and that Justice
and fair play for all will be the ac-
copied rule of action in all parts of
our country.
JOHN r. LYNCH.
Author Of "The Facts of Reconstrnc-
tion.' ~ 49, ~