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SALISBURY LYNCHING AND
PROFESSOR BROADUS
MITCHELL
To The Editor
I, Rev. George A. Morris, being a conservative, living in the midst of a conservative people, "on the Eastern Shore of Maryland," of sound mind, memory and understanding, do make this my first testament in the manner following, that is to say:
Item First: All articles written (by whomsoever) "and published," concerning the Salisbury lynching, criticising and reflecting upon the intelligence, morality and spirituality of the Salisbury and Eastern Shore people, HAVE DONE NO GOOD. They have engendered strife and caused a breach that will not be easily mended. I read all the articles, judged them for what they were worth, and consigned them to the trash pile. Results of an investigation, of the lynching at Salisbury," have been made public by the Federal Council of the Churches of Christ in America, hence I refer to the whole matter. We do not know all the findings but suffice it to say, in our opinion, the Federal Council might have employed its time and talent to a better advantage than CREATING MORE STRIFE.
Item Second: When a seeming intellectual, (would that Johns Hopkins had kept him at home) Prof. Broadus Mitchell, was resurrected (I use the word in slang sense), and acts in behalf of the Federal Council's Commission on Race Relations, it is time to speakj in no uncertain words. Prof. Mitchell said that he visited Salisbury from Friday to Sunday and talked to a dozen persons. Hence his conclusions. What a wonderful mind he must have. Mark you, in forty eight hours, this youngling did grasp the whole situation, weighed it in the balance and found Salisbury and the Eastern Shore people wanting, isolated and backward in mental and spiritual development. Isolated! What did he mean? Did he mean that we were isolated from such mental and spiritual intelligence as he proclaims? We thank God for the isolation. We have no quarrel with Baltimore, and do not charge that City and the Western Shore, with the outburst of vehement vituperation, from the pen of various writers. They represent a class who are not the brightest and best in the State in anywise. If we only knew' as much as they think they know, how this old globe would whirl. If Mr. Mitchell's knowledge of political economy is as limited as is his knowledge of the people of Salisbury and the Eastern Shore, then his state or condition is worse than ours. It is zero. Yea! It is less than zero. He is a minus quantity. His picture in the newspaper, the look of the eye, indicate (to me) egoism. O what fools we mortals be! May I insist upon what has been suggested in sarcasm by one of our critics? Well, I return it unto you. You men come over as missionaries, start a revival, have the mourners bench and stop firing putrid statements at us from long range. Elect your officers as follows: Mitchell as Chairman of our local Interracial Committee, Menchen to preach, Ains-ley to pray and hang crepe on our doors, Ades to take up the collection, and the Evening Sun Editor act as janitor. Stay in our midst as long as you please. YOU DECIDE THAT, then, go to your respective place, ascertain the number of penitents, and how many converts you have made. If we be dead, leave us along and the dead will bury their dead. However, I warn you tenderly, be cautions. O far away, far astray men! "Inflated and deluded by your own little selves, beware! Mind your own business. Wc have no respect for any of you. You have made matters worse by your nasty and untrue statements. We arc under no obligations to any of you writers from Baltimore. We shall attend to our business, seeking to get rid of the devil and his influence (even by piecemeal) whenever and wheresoever we can. No thanks to you wiseacres, (I use the word in contempt) or to the Federal Council of Churches in America. I refer you to Paul's letter to the Romans, second chapter, first three verses.
Item three: Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter. Stop this
hellish thing, criticising injustly Salisbury and the Eastern Shore, lest a more grievous thing should come upon our State. Salisbury is my home. I am proud of it, and the Eastern Shore and its people, and it is high time (all things being considered) that this damaging and damnable tirade concerning us, cease, and all the derogatory remarks and influence be consigned to Hades, where they belong. REV. G. A. MORRIS, Centreville, Md.
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