Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1921-01-27
CHAPTER XIII.
After Reconstruction A ketrospee.
tive Chapter

! ",
as they did the period when the ma
tive whites awaked at last from their
tcibargy. and regained control of
State and county government. in ms
Own native place life was as peaceful
aud quiet as though no great reyolu-
| ton was taking place With us. the
change was so naturally and easily
accomplished when the people had
once become aroused. and with so liz
tie cnmmotion. that | would have
known little of its magnitude, import
ancc and the difficulties that usually
| accompanied ii bat for the discus
sions among my old friends OF troab-
les and outrages in neighburing
States and even in some sections OF
our own Happily for us. our own
fsection was distinctly white notwith
standing the FACT that there had beer
quite number OF large slave owners
like my father in The fertile valiey.
OF the sTaekahoosie river; and il was
undoubtedly due TO this fact that there
VAS no further need of a recurrence
OF the Ku-kluxism or other form OF
lawiessness in erecting there an easy
change from carpet -baggeFy back 10
nfd-time democracy
That can recall absolutely no I'M
usual or startling event happening in
our vicinity during this. probably,
post Interesting period Of our histce,
though growing older and more oh
servant all the time. is clear proof
there was none; and judging from
ny own personal observation. would
have stoutly maintained that ali
stories OF intinid.siions. lsnchings and
ether forms Of Violence. were the Da e
libeis and inventions OF our enemies
But alas! many echoes Of bitter
struggles and unlawful deeds III other
p!aees reached me from the converse
tons OF my elders and take from me
all power To give our enemies the lie
knowing The history OF the country as
do now know that much that
reached US then was true also
Know hat many OF the individual
crimes committed in the name of the
redemption Of the country from black
supremacy, thievery. brutality ami
corruption, were crimes in the fullest
sense OF the word for there are
criminals in all lands and uniastih-
ablo by any law OF Cod or man; but
the unlawful acts OF the people as a
whole in suppresslng votes in some
places. intimidating in others. and
using other violent means in still
others to obtain control. were Tally
iastiaable by the great law of self
preservation; and the same or similar
means will be adopted to the end OF
silue by any yirila race oil superior in,
Hliigence and cnltMo, threatened
with extinction or domination by
ignorance and brutality or al inferior
civilization.
AS in all like cases however from
the beginning OF time. when necessity
coinpels a people. to so beyond the
laws, re bear the marks of our trans-
sressiens in our hearts ard acts To-
day and only time and many years of
peace and law and order can wipe
them all away
But to leave moralising. and return
TO facts, OF unlawful deeds and deeds
of violence. in Below and vicinity,
they were summed up in the record
Of tae Sne memorable night | have al
ready described; and though Mr..
Smithers and his crew were not Gust
ed till sons time later. from that time
tie country began To take n the look
md character il held for many years.
The old town itself relieved OF the
negro dread. resumed lis peaceful.
restful aspect. and settled more ana
more into the variest of sleepy hol-
lows. growing little more dilapi-
dated year by year. People had be-
come too poor 70 keep houses and
places in repair and bricks falling
from copings or chimneys. STATS from
window blinds no longer so green as
they used to be or palings from the
once trim fences we're left lying where
they fell; and 40 paint replaced that
peeled from wall and pillar
Tie patrician houses. set in iho
middle OF their squares. and sur
rounded BY stately oaks and mag
noiias. and many ornamental trees
and shrubs. sill looked majectic from
distance, bu, close inspection
would reveal the same decay there as
| in the other parts of the town
Cows browsed peacefully about the
grass grown streets: and pigs of all
| kinds. from the choicest specimens Of
1 razor backs TO the great fat Berkshire
SOW OF old Bob Smith. the livery
stable keeper. thar never seemed TO
i he without neW litter roamed about
at will and rooted holes and puddles
/ in the most likely places about the
cutters
The people 100 hept pace with the
town. becoming careless OF dress and
manner. and gradually settling into q
state OF apparent sleepy indifference.
/ The elder men. for time. still wore
their threadbare black coats and soft
felt hats as carefully brushed and
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