The Semi-weekly leader., 1919-08-13
COMMUNITY IS WHAT II
MAKES ITSELF-FOR OR
AGAINST LAwLEsSNESS.


A community must bear the stig-,
ma of its own lawlessness and wheth-
er done singly or In groups the prin-
,clple is the same. The breaking Of
the law should be condemned wheth-
er done by one or two or more and
whether the law-breaker is white or
black. and with the same vigor and
forcefulness with which law should
be upheld under any and all circum-
stances.
We don't need more laws but we
need more enforcement of the law.
Officers that palliate and uphold
through their indifference or negli-
gence lawbreakers, are particeps
criminis in the natural outcome of
their own short-copings In their Of
ficiaT capacity.
Lately there has been considerable
complaint here from colored people
themselves and from white residents
contiguous to negro quarters of the
shooting out of city lights and firing
o. arms causing serious disturbances
in the vicinity.
Thursday night there was firing of
pistols in several sections of our city,
causing alarm and discomfort to
neighbors.
On Tuesday night negro woman
was whipped by crowd of young
white men although she was under
arrest for assault and battery, hav-
ing, it is stated, showed white lady
off the sidewalk, and was under bond
at the time, we are informed by a
county official.
s Other young men led the mob that
went to Crystal Springs to lynch the
vagrant who cut Policeman George
James.
We mention these facts to empha-
size the fact that the law-breaker
should be dealt with by the law or
we shall soon revert to the law of
tooth and nail.
There is no wreaking of vengeance
or impulsive melting out of punish
ment which makes of the citizen q
himself, that has the ef-
feet Of the sure grip of the law.
But 1t has ever been that white
men stand ready to take things an
their own hands and to avenge their
race against encroachment of the ne
gro. 1t, therefore, behooves the col
ored people to take good advice and
not overstep the boundary line they
know as well as the white man does.
The incidents mentioned above
are not peculiar to Brookhaven or
Lincoln county, and everywhere they
are precursors of race troubles, with
results that make matters only
worse between the races.
= There is nothing for the negro to
do here but keep within his own
bounds. obey the law, and l3ciden-
tally cultivate a race pride that will
make for itself distinct people So
cially, and from government stand
point. AS DR.. Cooper said in his
speech at the Court House "Provi-
dence will open up a way by which
you can have youfsown government" :"
AS DR.. Cooper also said, THE An
glo-Saxon race will never permit
any other race to dominate it po-
litically, socially or in any other way
This is a white mans country and
this might as well be understood and
accepted by the colored man. You
are as safe here as you'd be in Chi
cago," added DR.. Cooper.
Now, the Leader in the interest of
the state, of the county and of our
people in this vicinity would .admon-
ish the negro contingent to conduct
themselves as under the law No
good can come of disobedience to it
as it relates to our white citizenship
or to the men and women of their
own race.
The white man, in addition to obe-
oience to the law, demands respect
and courteous department from the
negro and will not tolerate inso-
lence and presumption.
And the white man, we may add,
as member of the Anglo-Saxon
race, owes it to that race, as well as
to the African, to maintain its ra-
cial integrity and to deal justly with
the negro.
Let us all abide by and keep the
law. Let us be just and fear not.
Let AL the ends thou aim'st at,
Be thy country's, thy Gods and
Truths"