San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-03-01
THURSDAY, MARCH, I, 1888.
SADDLE The RIGHT HORSE.


Rev. Mack Henson, who is by no
means unknown to the readers OF the
LIGHT, writes this journal from Austin,
concerning the Rosa Schmidt incident.
Had Mr.. Henson been upon the ground
he would have had better opportunity
to judge fairly Of the merits OF this case,
and he would have seen very clearly
that in no case was 1t question Of ne
grophobIa. 1t was spontaneous and
general outburst OF indignation against
the treatment OF convicted prisoners by
the agents Of the penitentisry cOntrac-
tors. The attempt made to make the in
cident stand sponsor for an exhibition Of
hostility to the colored race is not likely
to succeed, and it is not wise nor just
for the colored people to make a martyr
Of the convict to whom Rosa Schmidt
was so unnecessarily chained. The YER
dict Of San Antonio has been approved
by all Texas. The cry comes up from
more than One-quarter that the indig-
nifty and inhumanity complained of here
has been witnessed In thous-
and other places, in thOuS-
and ways. Mr.. Henson is under
q mistake in suppostlng that Rosa
Schmidt owed her liberty to the mere
fact OF her being chained to negro, or
that she was regarded by the court as
yiciously criminal. The facts all show
that she was regarded as a girl of little
knowledge unacquainted with the real
nature Of her offence, and had the court
been possessed Of discretion in the pre-
misses her case would have been no
doubt, more leniently dealt with. The
movements for her pardon were not
Initiated on account OF her being led
through the streets in a chain gang, and
a collar is given by the communication
Of Mr.. Henson to the whole affair which
does not place 1t in true light. The
article reflects upon the people OF this
city, upon their sense Of justic and upon
the state executive unjustly. The i'm
preston Is conveyed that hardened
criminal is permitted to go unwhlpped
OF justice because or false sympathy
created out a ridiculous position in
In which such criminal was placed.
Not at all. A young girl, in ali
respects so far as known of cor
rect character, commits crime
which II she had good common sense
she must have known would have
been instantly detected. The girl
awakens the sympathy of the:city and
an effort is made for her pardon. In the
meantime the penitentiary agent comes
to take her to convict quarters, chains
her In a collie and marches her through
the streets thus chained to q white man,
Mexican. and a negro. The fact is
made the occasion OF q more earnest eff
fort for her liberty and succeeds. Does
the Rev. Mack Henson, who breaches
the gospel Of him who said, Neither do
condem thee, go and sin no more.r
find fault with the mercy thus shown a
young girl Of tender years unacquainted
with crime. Was 1t not a christian act
to save her from the debasing associa-
tions Of convict life, particularly when
there was every reason to believe that
all that was needed to teach the girl
life lesson had already been accom-
plished9 Because the law bears harshly
and uDjustly upon all, and colored peo-
pie also, as well as white, are treated
with ignominy by the creatures of
penitentiary lessees, does 1t follow that
1t is a crime for popular feeling
to interpose In any case? Because
mercy Is not equally melted out to all
must none share the benefits Of so di
vine quality? The colored people of
Texas as well as OF other states no
doubt do have and have had and unfor.
tunately are destined to have melted out
to them some very harsh and inhuman
and brutal treatment at the hands of
those clothed with q little brief author
lty. The LIGHT does protest, has pro-
tested and will protest against any such
inhumanity everywhere, no matter BY
whom perpetrated or against whom. The
LIGHT is on record as believing emphatI-
cally that reformation and not punish
ment should be the end Of all punitive
measures. The LIGHT faYors equality
before the law, and will open its columns