The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1919-08-12
PULLING TOGETHER.

PULLING TOGETHER.
Some time ago the Providence Bap-
tist church, colored, in the country
near Eatonton, Putnam county, was
burned to the ground, presumably by
incendiaries.
The pastor applied to well-known
philanthropist of Atlanta for sub
scription to fund being raised with
which to replace the burned edifice.
In his reply, the latter expressed
willingness to do as requested, but
he wanted to know what help had
been rendered in the pastors own
community.
The negro minister responded:
:sFirst, the white people of the COM
munity have offered S2,100 reward
for capture and conviction of the
outlaws who burned the church;
secondly, they have contributed to-
ward rebuilding my own church ST.
900; more is coming, as my white
friends sympathize and feel kindly
toward my people"
In explanation of his theory that
the church had been destroyed by
Outlaws" the pastor said:
'I disciplined some young men for
drinking and carousing around the
church on Sunday preceding the
burning. This fact leads me to be-
lieve that the illicit distiIlers of
liquor advised those who felt ag-
grieved to take revenge by the dast-
, aSdly burning of the church property.
The illicit distillers are white peo-
pie, who sell to negroes and whites;
and there are more stills. in Putnam
county than ever before existed, if
we believe the people who appear to
know"
This correspondence shows COM
mendable spirit of cooperation be-
tween the decent and law-abiding
elements of both the whites and
blacks of Putnam county. This is
indicated by the effort the white
people have made to redress the
wrong the colored people suffered,
and to rebuild their church, even
though the incendiaries were law
less negroes.
Outlaw citizens, white and black,
manufacture illicit whiskey of the
vilest kind, sell it to hct-headed, ir-
responsible or criminal citizens, white
and black, who, upon drinking it, be-
come outlaws and imperil the COM
munity.
In every community there are
enough decent, respectable and
law-abiding people of both races, if
they pull together for their mutual
welfare and protection, to domi-
nate the situation and preserve
order.
This can be done only by coopera-
ton and good will between the white
Ind the colored people, such as is
evidenced in Putnam county.-At-
ianta Constitution.
The above from the Atlanta Con-
atitution is rather long story for US
o print in view of the fact that the
scene is laid in Georgia county, but
Il contains several very important
truths which are equally applicable
to Newberry. Of course, we do not
mean to say that stills are
numerous in this county. On the
contrary, if there are any they are
very scarce. We believe they did dis
cover one in negro house down in
Prosperity, and there may be a few
around, but the illicit distilling OF
LIQUOR is not one of the crimes that
can be charged to our people.
But the point of the article, as we
see it, is that the best way to have
.sood feeling among the races, and to
lave law and order, is to have all the
ood people of the community OF
10th races to pull together for the
.,elfare and good order Of the COM
.aunity, and it is the proper and only
,yay to have good community in
=, hich to live. We are still of the
;, ION that the good people and the