St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-04-16
SOUTHERN NEGRO CRIME.

A dispatch from Charleston, South caro-
lima gives a startling account of negro
crime, as compared with crimes committed
by white men. The object is to place the
negro race at a disadvantage. Imbruted
by slavery, we may well believe that the ig-
norant, vicious, criminal class among the
blacks is large. 1t is true also, that the
blacks in South Carolina largely outnumber
the whites, and in certain localities and coun
ties the dense negro population vastly pre-
ponderates over the white population. Of ne
cessity negro criminals in such localities are
more numerous than white criminals. If
Negro crime, as is alleged, is on the increase
in South Carolina, it is owing to the fact
that in that old aristocratc eX-slaveholding
state adequate means are not taken to edu-
cate, enlighten, elevate and civilize the
late subject race. Negroes are still looked
down upon as chattels, indeed as cattle, and
are denied classification within the fold of
humanity.
The statement is made that at the recent
term of court in Marion county 20 colored
persons were sent to penitentiary. One was
convicted of beating child to death. An
other of fatally whipping colored man; two
were convicted of shooting an inoffensive
farmer; four others were sent to prison for
riot.
At this spring term in Newberry county IA
convicts were sent to the penitentiary, Ii of
whom were colored. In Laurens county II
negroes were convicted, but no whites. In
Union county negroes were convicted and
two white men. In Spartanburg county Is
negroes were convicted and 5 whites. In
other circuits it is stated the ratio of crime
between the whites and negroes is about the
same.
This is due in large measure to the causes
already limited at namely; the large prepond-
erance of the colored over the white race.
The counties named are dense negro coun-
ties. 1t must also be borne in mind that it
requires much less evidence to convict a
negro in South Carolina than white man.
The crimes above specified are not pc
culiar to the colored race alone, in their tur-
pitude. Examine the criminal records in
any of the large towns and cities North and
South, and crimes far more atrocious and
numerous, perpetrated by white criminals
will be found. The increase of crime at the
present time is most fearful, and is confined
to no locality, and no race. or nationality.
If crime is on the increase among the col
ored people of South Carolina, or any other
southern state, it is due to the treatment of
them by the ruling white dynasties of their
states, and by the contempt with which the
race is held by the whites. The sins of the
old slaveholding olgarchy are being visited
edncate, and enlighten and elevate and re-
form the lowly and densely ignorant colored
people imbruted as they have been by long
years of oppression would diminish the vol
ume of crime among them.
1t would be far more to the benefit and
institutions of learning not only for the ne
gro race, but for the ignorant, vicious Spoor
white thrash than to build jails and peni-
tentiaries. Yet, the one class of structures or
the other must be multiplied.
The true economy of civil and social life,
and the true spirit of humanity and philanthro-
Ply do not yet prevade the late ruling, domi-
nant class at the South, sufficiently to over
come their prejudice against, and contempt
of the race so long held in chattel servitude
The entailment of evils inflicted on both
races by the long enforcementof the scourge
of oppression, are slow to give way, and yet
largely continue, and time alone with pre-
dominant humane influence and endeavor
can serve to eradicate them.