The Lexington advertiser. [volume] (Lexington, Miss.) 1904-1985, 1963-11-28

The same kind of madness, malice IN haJreu WHICH roVoh ILLS
unspeakable crime against all humanity has been manifested by too many
people in the Deep South.
The ugly truth is that John Kennedy has been killed many times
in the fanatical minds and black hearts of some violence prone Southern
ers = and perhaps in other regions as we'll.
All of us have heard and read the hate-Kennedy jokes which are a
mark of a low grade mind, suggestive of the sick times in which we i've.
All of IS have heard one speaker after another. having 10 accomplish
ments or record of his own, WOO his audience with a cussKennedy speech,
attacks which have been not only unChristan, unfair and n poor taste
but for the most part based o false, incomplete information. Or down
right malice. Yet, either through ignorance on u W part o cowardce,
we have at silently and failed to defend what we know to be right.
Through or w lack of character and high purpose, by own
irresponsible citizenship as evidenced in our failure to speak out, we
have abdicated the stage to the demagogues, bgots and other hate-flled
extremists and the. aad actors IS they are have created in Misds-
sipi and the South tie atmosphere in which the President of the United
States is brutany murdered, shot in the back.
1t is shocking and unbelievable that we have sunk SO low.
But no person in Mississippi would kill a president, you say. Yet
two men were murdered at Ole Miss little more than a year ago. Their
killers have not been found. That was outsiders" you reply.
Medgar Evers was murdered in June, shot. in the back from ambush
by a high powered rifle, a crime repeated this week or the President OF
the United States and the Governor of Texas. The second crime may
we'll have been inspired by the first:
In Mississippi five months later the indicted, accused slayer of Evers
has not vet been brought to trial. Up until Monday he was receiving red
carpet treatment at the Rankin County jail enjoying his own teev1slon
set and private gun collection.
This is additional evidence of r corrupt and unhealthy state OF
affairs, if any is needed. The souLsckening reaction in some quarters
to the Presidents assassination, especially from some school children
is even more.
of course none who reads this newspaper would commit a murder
or defend anyone who does. We hope
But. this alone does not expate our guilt
When WE permit to go unchaIenged the barrage of rabbh-rousng,
hateinspirng statements, announcements and propaganda Whc annosV
daily emanate from a variety of sources here in MISSISSIPPI and elsewhere
in the South, chiefly from the white Citizens Councils and other extrem-
it groups, we ourselves re helping to create the society in. which de-
praved persons O limited minds are moved to violence, including murder.
We are ou brothers keeper, whether we like it o not
We cannot evade " escape u responsibility IS citizens for what
has happened.
Nor can Texans.
Ac for hack as November a. 1860. Dallas extremists made bitter u.s..
samts upon the person OF their senator n ms WHe, 10Y te Rev PRESS
dent and First Lady.
Last month in Dallas the rabd Right-Wngers were attacking and
shifting in the face of III Ambassador to the United Nations, Adlai
Stevenson.
Now comes the tragic Staying of our President.
Can w e really be surprised that it happened in Dallas?
Can W honestly think it could not have happened in Mississippi?
Or Alabama?
We wish W e could say this will be the end of hate and violence in
the South.
But as long as our people continue to live with hardened hearts and
closed minds, as long as W e refuse to come into and live in the 10th Cen
turv. a long as we send sef-seeking demagogues to or state legislature
and Congress who cater to our prejudces and passions instead OF exer-
nation, that long will we continue to be a divided nation and a divided
world.
Our only hope for the future, as a state and nation, IS to beg Dr.
oiveness for our sins of commission and omission, and to. resolve faith
fuTv with Gods help, to stop wicked, un-Christian hate, intolerance and
violence.
so that this nation, under God, shall have a neW birth OF Tree
dom. that government of the people, by the people and for n people
shall not perish from the earth knowing If hate continue 70 rWe
the hearts of men, the end may well come soon.
This is our urgent, constant prayer for or own Mississippi and
- - fu bic oroofoct nation in HI Wmr0 n UmteQS tau