The Malicious and Dishonest White Press

The lynching of three Negro scoundrels reported in our dispatches from Anniston, Ala., for a brutal outrage committed upon a white woman will be a text for much comment on "Southern barbarism" by Northern newspapers; but we fancy it will hardly prove effective for campaign purposes among intelligent people. The frequency of these lynchings calls attention to the frequency of the crimes which causes lynching. The "Southern barbarism" which deserves the serious attention of all people North and South, is the barbarism which preys upon weak and defenseless women. Nothing but the most prompt, speedy and extreme punishment can hold in check the horrible and beastial propensities of the Negro race. There is a strange similarity about a number of cases of this character which have lately occurred. In each case the crime was deliberately planned and perpetrated by several Negroes. They watched for an opportunity when the women were left without a protector. It was not a sudden yielding to a fit of passion, but the consummation of a devilish purpose which has been seeking and waiting for the opportunity. This feature of the crime not only makes it the most fiendishly brutal, but it adds to the terror of the situation in the thinly settled country communities. No man can leave his family at night without the dread that some roving Negro ruffian is watching and waiting for this opportunity. The swift punishment which invariably follows these horrible crimes doubtless acts as a deterring effect upon the Negroes in that immediate neighborhood for a short time. But the lesson is not widely learned nor long remembered. Then such crimes, equally atrocious, have happened in quick succession, one in Tennessee, one in Arkansas, and one in Alabama. The facts of the crime appear to appeal more to the Negro's lustful imagination than the facts of the punishment do to his fears. He sets aside all fear of death in any form when opportunity is found for the gratification of his bestial desires. There is small reason to hope for any change for the better. The commission of this crime grows more frequent every year. The generation of Negroes which have grown up since the war have lost in large measure the traditional and wholesome awe of the white race which kept the Negroes in subjection, even when their masters were in the army, and their families left unprotected except by the slaves themselves. There is no longer a restraint upon the brute passion of the Negro. What is to be done? The crime of rape is always horrible, but the Southern man there is nothing which so fills the soul with horror, loathing and fury as the outraging of a white woman by a Negro. It is the race question in the ugliest, vilest, most dangerous aspect. The Negro as a political factor can be controlled. But neither laws nor lynchings can subdue his lusts. Sooner or later it will force a crisis. We do not know in what form it will come.

The lynching of three Black scoundrels was reported in our dispatches from Anniston, Ala. They were lynched for a brutal assault on a white woman. Northern newspapers will use the lynching as an occasion for much comment on "Southern barbarism". But we think it will hardly serve their campaign purposes among intelligent people. The frequency of these lynchings draws attention to the frequency of the crimes that cause them. The "Southern barbarism" that deserves the serious attention of everyone, North and South, is the barbarism that preys on weak and defenseless women. Only the quickest and most extreme punishment can keep the horrible and bestial tendencies of the Black race in check. Several recent cases of this kind are strangely similar. In each case, several Black people deliberately planned and committed the crime. They watched for a chance when the women were left without a protector. The crime was not a sudden surrender to passion. It was the completion of a devilish plan, prepared in advance and carried out when the opportunity came. This aspect not only makes the crime the most fiendishly brutal. It also adds to the terror in sparsely settled rural communities. No man can leave his family at night without fearing that some wandering Black ruffian is watching and waiting for that chance. The swift punishment that always follows these horrible crimes doubtless deters Black people in the immediate neighborhood for a short time. But the lesson is not widely learned or long remembered. Then equally atrocious crimes have happened in quick succession, one in Tennessee, one in Arkansas, and one in Alabama. The facts of the crime seem to appeal to the Black man's lustful imagination more than the facts of the punishment appeal to his fears. He sets aside all fear of death in any form when he finds a chance to satisfy his bestial desires. There is little reason to hope for any change for the better. This crime is committed more often every year. The generation of Black people who grew up since the war has largely lost its traditional and wholesome awe of the white race. That awe kept Black people in subjection, even when their masters were in the army. Their masters' families were then left unprotected except by the slaves themselves. There is no longer any restraint on the Black man's brute passion. What is to be done? Rape is always horrible. But for the Southern man, nothing fills the soul with such horror, loathing, and fury as the rape of a white woman by a Black man. It is the race question in its ugliest, vilest, and most dangerous form. Black people can be controlled as a political force. But neither laws nor lynchings can subdue their lusts. Sooner or later, it will force a crisis. We do not know what form it will take.

Aside from the violation of white women by Negroes, which is the outcropping of a bestial perversion of instinct, the chief cause of trouble between the races in the South is the Negro's lack of manners. In the state of slavery he learned politeness from association with white people, who took pains to teach him. Since the emancipation came and the tie of mutual interest and regard between master and servant was broken, the Negro has drifted away into a state which is neither freedom nor bondage. Lacking the proper inspiration of the one and the restraining force of the other he has taken up the idea that boorish insolence is independence, and the exercise of a decent degree of breeding toward white people is identical with servile submission. In consequence of the prevalence of this notion there are many Negroes who use every opportunity to make themselves offensive, particularly when they think it can be done with impunity. We have had too many instances right here in Memphis to doubt this, and our experience is not exceptional. The white people won't stand this sort of thing, and whether they be insulted as individuals are as a race, the response will be prompt and effectual. The bloody riot of 1866, in which so many Negroes perished, was brought on principally by the outrageous conduct of the blacks toward the whites on the streets. It is also a remarkable and discouraging fact that the majority of such scoundrels are Negroes who have received educational advantages at the hands of the white taxpayers. They have got just enough of learning to make them realize how hopelessly their race is behind the other in everything that makes a great people, and they attempt to "get even" by insolence, which is ever the resentment of inferiors. There are well-bred Negroes among us, and it is truly unfortunate that they should have to pay, even in part, the penalty of the offenses committed by the baser sort, but this is the way of the world. The innocent must suffer for the guilty. If the Negroes as a people possessed a hundredth part of the self-respect which is evidenced by the courteous bearing of some that the Scimitar could name, the friction between the races would be reduced to a minimum. It will not do to beg the question by pleading that many white men are also stirring up strife. The Caucasian blackguard simply obeys the promptings of a depraved disposition, and he is seldom deliberately rough or offensive toward strangers or unprotected women. The Negro tough, on the contrary, is given to just that kind of offending, and he almost invariably singles out white people as his victims.

Apart from the rape of white women by Black men, which springs from a bestial perversion of instinct, the main cause of trouble between the races in the South is Black people's lack of manners. Under slavery, Black people learned politeness through contact with white people, who took care to teach them. Emancipation broke the bond of mutual interest and regard between master and servant. Since then, Black people have drifted into a state that is neither freedom nor bondage. Without the proper inspiration of freedom or the restraining force of bondage, they have adopted a mistaken idea. They believe that rude insolence is independence, and that showing white people decent manners is the same as slavish submission. Because this idea is widespread, many Black people take every opportunity to make themselves offensive. They do so especially when they think they can get away with it. We have seen too many examples right here in Memphis to doubt this, and our experience is not unusual. White people will not tolerate this behavior. Whether they are insulted as individuals or as a race, their response will be swift and effective. The bloody riot of 1866, in which so many Black people died, was caused mainly by the outrageous behavior of Black people toward white people in the streets. It is also a remarkable and discouraging fact that most such scoundrels are Black people educated at white taxpayers' expense. They have learned just enough to realize how hopelessly far behind the other race their race is in everything that makes a great people. They try to "get even" through insolence, which is always the resentment of inferiors. There are well-mannered Black people among us. It is truly unfortunate that they must pay even part of the penalty for offenses committed by the baser sort, but this is the way of the world. The innocent must suffer for the guilty. Some Black people show self-respect through their courteous behavior, and the Scimitar could name them. If Black people as a whole had a hundredth of that self-respect, friction between the races would be reduced to a minimum. It will not do to dodge the question by arguing that many white men also stir up strife. A white scoundrel simply follows the impulses of a depraved character. He is seldom deliberately rough or offensive toward strangers or unprotected women. The Black tough, by contrast, is prone to exactly that kind of offense, and he almost always singles out white people as his victims.