The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-07-11

Rev. Richard Carroll Discusses Race
Riots In The North and Race TrOu-
blcs hn the south.
lily Item.

Editor OF The lly Item.
God is my juoge. am not seeking
the hmelight. honor nor prominence
or trying 20 impress anyone that l am
a leader of the negro race. for the
leaders among the negro race through
out tho South are their pastors. The
negro Hcwspapcss and teachers con-
tribute little of leadership in the
South. II is the preacher. and like
priest like people. Tho negro people
are not above their preachers. II
must be conceded that our race Is
s<ilE - Ats infancy. II has been stated
by many negro leaders that tho move
ment Of the negroes to tho north is
providential. DO not know. AS an
Individual. have felt that 1t is n
mistake.
Any man who will stand up for
righteous cause will he severely criti-
cised. i spcnt two weeks In the North
but ] did not so there on an investi-
eating tour. Mr.. Jos. @. Butler of
Ohio invited me to deliver two lee
tures--one ON the Horse and one on
the Southern Problem. There were
many southern people In the aud
ience. I did not make a speech be-
fore the Yankees that would not
make before an audience of southern
people. I told them I thought tho
South is the best home for the colored
man. especially at this time ana that
did not want to see the southern
problem transferred to the north.
said that whom mob law started in
the north and lynchings IL would not
be as fair as I'm the south where they
20 after one man. but that in the
north they would mob them as they
came to them. and that IL would be
terrible IL this spirit were transferred
to the north. The riot in East St
Louis has nothing to do with what i
am saying. I have said the same
thing for twenty years. Mob law
against negroes is liable to break out
at any time In cities like Chicago,
Philadelphia and even Boston. re-
gardless OF the laws on the statute
books In those States. What Is need
ed In the South is sentiment for JUS
tice. law and order. The greatest
missionary field I'm America and one
That viii show greatest fruits Is the
south. The negroes have been here
nearly 500 years. Like other people
they have many faults. but they have
contributed much to the material well
fsss- OF the south. Southern church
es OF all denominations have mission
ary work at their doors. The oduca-
tion OF the negro simply means to
give him an opportunity to bring out
the best In him. that Is IL the founda-
ton is Christian. The south needs to
give more of it's money TO home mis-
sions; TO assist In their schools around
their doors. The best home defence
In tho preaching of the gospel The
religious work done by southern pco-
pie before the war bore Its fruits dur
ing the war In making the negro de-
fend the fireside of the people who
were lighting to keep him In bondagc
IL caused the negro to grow foodstuffs
for the soldiers Mt the front and de-
fend the homes of the men who were
absent on the firing line. The best
work I or anyone can do ut this time
In To endeavor to- form religious SEN
tlment In tho south and this is the
work of every negro preacher. editor
as well as OF every white preacher and
editor. And believe me. i am not
endeavoring to get into the limelight
or to- pose as n negro leader. I have
already stated that the ncEros lcadcs
In his preacher. but regardless of wh1i
my race thinks of me or anyone else
II have set my face like a flint" a.
preach this gospel as long as 1 have
breath. I have faith I'm the south
and faith In the religion of the Lord
Jesus Christ that makes men better.
Richard Carroll.
Columbia. 8. c.