"It's an elegant specimen6 of journalism7, isn't it?" laughed the general, airily. "Listen to this 'ad':—
"'Kinky, curly hair made straight by one application of our specific. Our face bleach8 will turn the skin of a black or brown person four or five shades lighter9, and of a mulatto perfectly10 white. When you get the color you wish, stop using the preparation.'
"Just look at those heads!—'Before using' and 'After using.' We'd better hurry, or there'll be no negroes to disfranchise! If they don't stop till they get the color they desire, and the stuff works according to contract, they'll all be white. Ah! what have we here? This looks as though it might be serious." Opening the sheet the general read aloud an editorial article, to which Carteret listened intently, his indignation increasing in strength from the first word to the last, while McBane's face grew darkly purple with anger.
The article was a frank and somewhat bold discussion of lynching and its causes. It denied that most lynchings were for the offense12 most generally charged as their justification13, and declared that, even of those seemingly traced to this cause, many were not for crimes at all, but for voluntary acts which might naturally be expected to follow from the miscegenation14 laws by which it was sought, in all the Southern States, to destroy liberty of contract, and, for the purpose of maintaining a fanciful purity of race, to make crimes of marriages to which neither nature nor religion nor the laws of other states interposed any insurmountable barrier. Such an article in a Northern newspaper would have attracted no special attention, and might merely have furnished food to an occasional reader for serious thought upon a subject not exactly agreeable; but coming from a colored man, in a Southern city, it was an indictment15 of the laws and social system of the South that could not fail of creating a profound sensation.
"Infamous—infamous!" exclaimed Carteret, his voice trembling with emotion. "The paper should be suppressed immediately."
"Gentlemen," said the general soothingly18, after the first burst of indignation had subsided19, "I believe we can find a more effective use for this article, which, by the way, will not bear too close analysis,—there's some truth in it, at least there's an argument." "That is not the point," interrupted Carteret.
"No," interjected McBane with an oath, "that ain't at all the point.
Truth or not, no damn nigger has any right to say it."
"This article," said Carteret, "violates an unwritten law of the South. If we are to tolerate this race of weaklings among us, until they are eliminated by the stress of competition, it must be upon terms which we lay down. One of our conditions is violated by this article, in which our wisdom is assailed20, and our women made the subject of offensive comment. We must make known our disapproval21."
"I say lynch the nigger, break up the press, and burn down the newspaper office," McBane responded promptly22.
"Gentlemen," interposed the general, "would you mind suspending the discussion for a moment, while I mind Jerry across the street? I think I can then suggest a better plan."
Carteret rang the bell for Jerry, who answered promptly. He had been expecting such a call ever since the gentlemen had gone in.
"Jerry," said the general, "step across to Brown's and tell him to send me three Calhoun cocktails23. Wait for them,—here's the money."
"And make has'e, charcoal," added McBane, "for we're gettin' damn dry."
A momentary25 cloud of annoyance26 darkened Carteret's brow. McBane had always grated upon his aristocratic susceptibilities. The captain was an upstart, a product of the democratic idea operating upon the poor white man, the descendant of the indentured27 bondservant and the socially unfit. He had wealth and energy, however, and it was necessary to make use of him; but the example of such men was a strong incentive28 to Carteret in his campaign against the negro. It was distasteful enough to rub elbows with an illiterate29 and vulgar white man of no ancestry,—the risk of similar contact with negroes was to be avoided at any cost. He could hardly expect McBane to be a gentleman, but when among men of that class he might at least try to imitate their manners. A gentleman did not order his own servants around offensively, to say nothing of another's.
The general had observed Carteret's annoyance, and remarked pleasantly while they waited for the servant's return:—
"Jerry, now, is a very good negro. He's not one of your new negroes, who think themselves as good as white men, and want to run the government. Jerry knows his place,—he is respectful, humble30, obedient, and content with the face and place assigned to him by nature."
"Yes, he's one of the best of 'em," sneered31 McBane. "He'll call any man 'master' for a quarter, or 'God' for half a dollar; for a dollar he'll grovel32 at your feet, and for a cast-off coat you can buy an option on his immortal33 soul,—if he has one! I've handled niggers for ten years, and I know 'em from the ground up. They're all alike,—they're a scrub race, an affliction to the country, and the quicker we're rid of 'em all the better."
Carteret had nothing to say by way of dissent34. McBane's sentiments, in their last analysis, were much the same as his, though he would have expressed them less brutally35. "The negro," observed the general, daintily flicking36 the ash from his cigar, "is all right in his place and very useful to the community. We lived on his labor37 for quite a long time, and lived very well. Nevertheless we are better off without slavery, for we can get more out of the free negro, and with less responsibility. I really do not see how we could get along without the negroes. If they were all like Jerry, we'd have no trouble with them."
Having procured38 the drinks, Jerry, the momentary subject of the race discussion which goes on eternally in the South, was making his way back across the street, somewhat disturbed in mind.
"O Lawd!" he groaned39, "I never troubles trouble till trouble troubles me; but w'en I got dem drinks befo', Gin'l Belmont gimme half a dollar an' tol' me ter keep de change. Dis time he didn' say nothin' 'bout40 de change. I s'pose he jes' fergot erbout it, but w'at is a po' nigger gwine ter do w'en he has ter conten' wid w'ite folks's fergitfulniss? I don' see no way but ter do some fergittin' myse'f. I'll jes' stan' outside de do' here till dey gits so wrop' up in deir talk dat dey won' 'member nothin' e'se, an' den5 at de right minute I'll ban' de glasses 'roun, an' moa' lackly de gin'l 'll fergit all 'bout de change."
While Jerry stood outside, the conversation within was plainly audible, and some inkling of its purport41 filtered through his mind.
"Now, gentlemen," the general was saying, "here's my plan. That editorial in the negro newspaper is good campaign matter, but we should reserve it until it will be most effective. Suppose we just stick it in a pigeon-hole, and let the editor,—what's his name?"
"The nigger's name is Barber," replied McBane. "I'd like to have him under me for a month or two; he'd write no more editorials."
"Let Barber have all the rope he wants," resumed the general, "and he'll be sure to hang himself. In the mean time we will continue to work up public opinion,—we can use this letter privately42 for that purpose,—and when the state campaign opens we'll print the editorial, with suitable comment, scatter43 it broadcast throughout the state, fire the Southern heart, organize the white people on the color line, have a little demonstration44 with red shirts and shotguns, scare the negroes into fits, win the state for white supremacy45, and teach our colored fellow citizens that we are tired of negro domination and have put an end to it forever. The Afro-American Banner will doubtless die about the same time."
"And so will the editor!" exclaimed McBane ferociously46; "I'll see to that. But I wonder where that nigger is with them cocktails? I'm so thirsty I could swallow blue blazes."
"Here's yo' drinks, gin'l," announced Jerry, entering with the glasses on a tray.
The gentlemen exchanged compliments and imbibed—McBane at a gulp47, Carteret with more deliberation, leaving about half the contents of his glass.
The general drank slowly, with every sign of appreciation48. "If the illustrious statesman," he observed, "whose name this mixture bears, had done nothing more than invent it, his fame would still deserve to go thundering down the endless ages."
Jerry received the empty glasses on the tray and left the room. He had scarcely gained the hall when the general called him back.
"O Lawd!" groaned Jerry, "he's gwine ter ax me fer de change. Yas, suh, yas, suh; comin', gin'l, comin', suh!"
"You may keep the change, Jerry," said the general.
Jerry's face grew radiant at this announcement. "Yas, suh, gin'l; thank y', suh; much obleedzed, suh. I wuz jus' gwine ter fetch it in, suh, w'en I had put de tray down. Thank y', suh, truly, suh!"
Jerry backed and bowed himself out into the hall.
"Dat wuz a close shave," he muttered, as he swallowed the remaining contents of Major Carteret's glass. "I 'lowed dem twenty cents wuz gone dat time,—an' whar I wuz gwine ter git de money ter take my gal51 ter de chu'ch festibal ter-night, de Lawd only knows!—'less'n I borried it offn Mr. Ellis, an' I owes him sixty cents a'ready. But I wonduh w'at dem w'ite folks in dere is up ter? Dere's one thing sho',—dey're gwine ter git after de niggers some way er 'nuther, an' w'en dey does, whar is Jerry gwine ter be? Dat's de mos' impo'tantes' question. I'm gwine ter look at dat newspaper dey be'n talkin' 'bout, an' 'less'n my min' changes might'ly, I'm gwine ter keep my mouf shet an' stan' in wid de Angry-Saxon race,—ez dey calls deyse'ves nowadays,—an' keep on de right side er my bread an' meat. Wat nigger ever give me twenty cents in all my bawn days?"
"By the way, major," said the general, who lingered behind McBane as they were leaving, "is Miss Clara's marriage definitely settled upon?"
"Well, general, not exactly; but it's the understanding that they will marry when they are old enough."
"I was merely thinking," the general went on, "that if I were you I'd speak to Tom about cards and liquor. He gives more time to both than a young man can afford. I'm speaking in his interest and in Miss Clara's,—we of the old families ought to stand together."
"Thank you, general, for the hint. I'll act upon it."
This political conference was fruitful in results. Acting52 upon the plans there laid out, McBane traveled extensively through the state, working up sentiment in favor of the new movement. He possessed53 a certain forceful eloquence54; and white supremacy was so obviously the divine intention that he had merely to affirm the doctrine55 in order to secure adherents56.
General Belmont, whose business required him to spend much of the winter in Washington and New York, lost no opportunity to get the ear of lawmakers, editors, and other leaders of national opinion, and to impress upon them, with persuasive57 eloquence, the impossibility of maintaining existing conditions, and the tremendous blunder which had been made in conferring the franchise11 upon the emancipated58 race.
Carteret conducted the press campaign, and held out to the Republicans of the North the glittering hope that, with the elimination59 of the negro vote, and a proper deference60 to Southern feeling, a strong white Republican party might be built up in the New South. How well the bait took is a matter of history,—but the promised result is still in the future. The disfranchisement of the negro has merely changed the form of the same old problem. The negro had no vote before the rebellion, and few other rights, and yet the negro question was, for a century, the pivot61 of American politics. It plunged62 the nation into a bloody63 war, and it will trouble the American government and the American conscience until a sustained attempt is made to settle it upon principles of justice and equity64.
The personal ambitions entertained by the leaders of this movement are but slightly involved in this story. McBane's aims have been touched upon elsewhere. The general would have accepted the nomination65 for governor of the state, with a vision of a senatorship in the future. Carteret hoped to vindicate66 the supremacy of his race, and make the state fit for his son to live in, and, incidentally, he would not refuse any office, worthy67 of his dignity, which a grateful people might thrust upon him.
So powerful a combination of bigot, self-seeking demagogue, and astute68 politician was fraught69 with grave menace to the peace of the state and the liberties of the people,—by which is meant the whole people, and not any one class, sought to be built up at the expense of another.
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1
proprietary
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| n.所有权，所有的；独占的；业主 | |
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quack
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| n.庸医；江湖医生；冒充内行的人；骗子 | |
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candor
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| n.坦白，率真 | |
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aspirations
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| 强烈的愿望( aspiration的名词复数 )； 志向； 发送气音； 发 h 音 | |
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den
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| n.兽穴；秘密地方；安静的小房间，私室 | |
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specimen
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| n.样本，标本 | |
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journalism
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| n.新闻工作，报业 | |
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8
bleach
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| vt.使漂白；vi.变白；n.漂白剂 | |
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lighter
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| n.打火机，点火器；驳船；v.用驳船运送；light的比较级 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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franchise
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| n.特许，特权，专营权，特许权 | |
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offense
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| n.犯规，违法行为；冒犯，得罪 | |
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justification
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| n.正当的理由；辩解的理由 | |
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miscegenation
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| n.人种混杂；混血 | |
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indictment
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| n.起诉；诉状 | |
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impudent
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| adj.鲁莽的，卑鄙的，厚颜无耻的 | |
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growled
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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soothingly
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| adv.抚慰地，安慰地；镇痛地 | |
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19
subsided
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| v.（土地）下陷（因在地下采矿）( subside的过去式和过去分词 )；减弱；下降至较低或正常水平；一下子坐在椅子等上 | |
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assailed
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| v.攻击( assail的过去式和过去分词 )；困扰；质问；毅然应对 | |
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disapproval
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| n.反对，不赞成 | |
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promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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cocktails
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| n.鸡尾酒( cocktail的名词复数 )；餐前开胃菜；混合物 | |
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proffered
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| v.提供，贡献，提出( proffer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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25
momentary
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| adj.片刻的，瞬息的；短暂的 | |
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annoyance
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| n.恼怒，生气，烦恼 | |
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indentured
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| v.以契约束缚（学徒）( indenture的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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incentive
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| n.刺激；动力；鼓励；诱因；动机 | |
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illiterate
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| adj.文盲的；无知的；n.文盲 | |
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30
humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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31
sneered
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| 讥笑，冷笑( sneer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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grovel
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| vi.卑躬屈膝，奴颜婢膝 | |
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immortal
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| adj.不朽的；永生的，不死的；神的 | |
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dissent
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| n./v.不同意，持异议 | |
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brutally
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| adv.残忍地，野蛮地，冷酷无情地 | |
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flicking
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| （尤指用手指或手快速地）轻击( flick的现在分词 )； （用…）轻挥； （快速地）按开关； 向…笑了一下（或瞥了一眼等） | |
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labor
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| n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦 | |
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38
procured
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| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的过去式和过去分词 )；拉皮条 | |
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groaned
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| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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bout
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| n.侵袭，发作；一次(阵，回)；拳击等比赛 | |
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purport
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| n.意义，要旨，大要；v.意味著，做为...要旨，要领是... | |
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privately
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| adv.以私人的身份，悄悄地，私下地 | |
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43
scatter
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| vt.撒，驱散，散开；散布/播；vi.分散，消散 | |
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44
demonstration
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| n.表明，示范，论证，示威 | |
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supremacy
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| n.至上；至高权力 | |
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ferociously
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| 野蛮地，残忍地 | |
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gulp
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| vt.吞咽，大口地吸（气）；vi.哽住；n.吞咽 | |
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appreciation
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| n.评价；欣赏；感谢；领会，理解；价格上涨 | |
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49
assented
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| 同意，赞成( assent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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50
smacking
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| 活泼的，发出响声的，精力充沛的 | |
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51
gal
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| n.姑娘，少女 | |
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52
acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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53
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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54
eloquence
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| n.雄辩；口才，修辞 | |
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55
doctrine
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| n.教义；主义；学说 | |
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56
adherents
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| n.支持者，拥护者( adherent的名词复数 )；党羽；徒子徒孙 | |
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57
persuasive
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| adj.有说服力的，能说得使人相信的 | |
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emancipated
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| adj.被解放的，不受约束的v.解放某人（尤指摆脱政治、法律或社会的束缚）( emancipate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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59
elimination
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| n.排除，消除，消灭 | |
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60
deference
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| n.尊重，顺从；敬意 | |
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61
pivot
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| v.在枢轴上转动；装枢轴，枢轴；adj.枢轴的 | |
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62
plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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63
bloody
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| adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染 | |
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64
equity
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| n.公正，公平，（无固定利息的）股票 | |
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65
nomination
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| n.提名，任命，提名权 | |
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66
vindicate
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| v.为…辩护或辩解，辩明；证明…正确 | |
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67
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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68
astute
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| adj.机敏的，精明的 | |
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fraught
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| adj.充满…的，伴有(危险等)的；忧虑的 | |
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