San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-02-24
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY, "a, 1888.
THE REAL CAUSE OF 1T.


In another column OF this issue will
be found a communication from the pen
OF Rev. C. l.. Madison, pastor of st.
Paul's NJ. 4. church (oolOred). This
communication takes exceptions to the
action OF the indignation meeting re-
Gently held in this city over the Rosa
Schmidt outrage, and the LIGHT thinks
that some OF that communication arises
from mistaken Impressions concerning
the real facts Of the case. The LIGHT
now and always desires to see exact
justice done, and has ever been ready to
strain point when necessary in de-
tense Of the colored people, belle wing
that the weak and not the strong, the
poor and not the rich, should receive a
lenient judgment at Its hands. In the
case OF Rosa Schmidt there is abundant
testimony as to the main facts upon
which that Indignation meeting was
based. These were: the youth OF
the girl her native simplicity which
rendered her real knowledge Of the
crime committed doubtful and,
her being yOked to men of another
color In regular cOffie and parsded
through the streets. Mr.. Madison ia in
error In supposing that the girl was not
linked directly to the negro man, and
also In error in supposing that the real
indignation was on account of her being
yoked to negro. This, no doubt, aggra-
waited the feeling and served to give en-
phasis and point to the outraged sense
which famed out in that public meeting.
The indignation was hot against the
claiming Of young girl, generally con-
sidered irresponsible for her acts, to
male felons and marched through the
public streets. That no attention would
have been paid to the matter had these
men all been white, the LIGHT does not
believe. A very general sympathy was
expressed for this girl before the in
human prison contractors agent so pub
Holy degraded her. Circumstances con-
spired to give her case a very local and
peculiar interest, and to all of these
causes, and not to the mere fact that che
was linked to criminals OF the other sex
and Of another race, was that indigna-
tion meeting due. The LIGHT endorses
that indignation meeting, and only re-
grets that 1t did not put
Itself more squarely upon the
record as cOndemning the whole
system Of convict labor AS generally prac-
ticed in Texas. This system bears equally
hard upon the criminals of all races ard
nationslities, with the chances against
any special mercy being showed to pris-
oners with African blood in their veins,
The LIGHT has on more than one occs-
sion taken strong ground against the
bsrbarities OF that system, and believes
that the iniquities are past condoninR.
The horrors OF the middle passage In old
slave ships were not more uncomfortable
than are the horrors OF some OF these
convict camps. Their existence is a
blot upon the state, a disgrace to the
commonwealth; a shame to her ciyIliza.
tion, and their abolition ia demanded nv
every consideration OF humanity. To
discuss the prison and convict camp
treatment OF Texas is not the proyipce
OF this article. Rosa Schmidt was a fit
subject Tor the house of correction. and
as juvenile offender, it would have
been In order to have sent her TO one.
had this enlightened state been so for.
tunste as to possess such a ministry OF
reform. That claiming her In a crime
coiiie along with hardened male mali
factors OF any race was not decent or
humane, or justifisble, MIR. Madison
himself freely admits. tits not peees-
sary to draw the color line here.
AS to the disabilities under which
the colored citizens labor in this CONN
try, and the manner In which
he is handicapped by the mere
accident Of race, and the fact
that he is himself 10 no sense respopsl.
Bile for his situatioD-all this ia onIv
too true and as sad as 1t is true, in its
setting forth by Rev. Madison. This
problem of that race is the problem
OF American civilization. Ii is utterly
useless to talk Of the millions Of colored
people In the United States remaining