Later we shall see how the slave states met the failure of their verbal defence of slavery with lynching, defended by charges of sex crimes. To understand the psychology back of this answer of force where logic and ethics failed, one needs only to consider a familiar superstition—the notion that all red-headed people are possessed of fiery tempers and are always ready to engage in physical combat. Neither biologists nor anyone else has found in the physical or mental constitution of red-headed human beings any substances which make them invariably different in temper and combativeness from those of more ordinary hair-colour; but psychologists have rightly assumed that the temper and the pugnacity are a defence mechanism against such derogatory appellations as "carrot—" or "brick-top." The assertiveness, the refusal to listen to arguments opposed to their own beliefs, the pugnaciousness of Southern congressmen, the indulgence in lynching and other forms of mob violence and intolerance spring beyond all doubt in large measure from the same sort of emotions.
The Civil War and the emancipation of the slaves increased rather than diminished the need for such defence. Defeated both in logic and in the test of armed strength the South obviously could not find sufficient solace in sentimental moping over "the lost cause." Despite preoccupation with expansion and the gathering of wealth, there was a large body of Northern opinion which severely criticized the South's bloody Recon-
