The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-07-03

Two notable cases. one in tho Wost
and the other in the South. are exciting
the very incisive speculation and criti-
cism az to the sentiments and facts that
lie behind the incidents a. the public
hears Of them. Ono OF the trials has
lust closed, with verdict Of acqulttal.
the peculiarly Of which is charged in
n measure 10 race prejudice. ard the
oth0r calls attention TO supposed
prejudice Of an equally serious
nature. But both Of them startle our
sonse 81 safety in our free institutions.
The one alarms the popular mind at the
fact that vast multitude Of ignorant
Jeople Of an inferior race have been in
vested with all the rights Of citizenship.
which they comprehend so little and
debass 80 VIGOROUSLY; and the other
case warns the people Of tho United
States that they may be terrorized by a
secret order Of foreigners who assume
the right TO suporcedo law with or
tNIllLtU Nr0ihniltli'hs
Now, whether the acquittal Of Nc
Dow was proper according to tho testl-
mony or not. and whether the Clan-na-
Gael decreed tho murder OF Cronln,
are not exactly the points that make
out the sensational interest Of the two
cases.
The theory Of wrong and danger to
our institutions is founded on facts that
those cases may not prove, but TO which
they call sharpaud thoughtful considera
ton. for our political and social system 10
founded on principles Of Fundamental
liberty and justice that, aiIordng TO
the citizen the fullest liberty, at the
same time give him full protection, and
when we know that great masses Of
foreigners and negroes are here az part
Of the body public, without the edusa-
ton and character and sense TO recognize
our principles, 1t must be- admitted that
there are grave dangers that the people
will arouse themselves TO. 1t IL easy
10 discriminate between the useful and
intelligent foreigner and the anarchist
aud tho same difference would be
readily perceived between the ntell-
gent Iregroes aud the ignorant masses
that are herded by the million to vote
ignorantly against the interests that
have given them employment and edu-
cation.
There is no Republican party or
Democratic party sin this, and the
candidate, politician or demagogue,
has but little to do with healthy and
practical discussion Of the question.
In the case Of the foreigner We can
put him 70 tine test OF character and
education as the standard Of citizen
ship without denying him all the
privileges and protection OF the Re-
public. aud as the public opinion Is.
rapidly drifting that way, the next
lid, il takes should be in the direction,
not Of disqualifying the negro, as It Is
not hkely that We Nouiu 10 u"Oh-
ward when an amendment TO the
constitution has put him forward.
But he certainly does need = quallii-
cation and standard Of education be-
fore representation, law making, aud
the administration OF justice are en-
trusted to him.
The danger signals staud al the two
points where the crowd Of negroes IN
Charleston vocifersusly applauded the
the acquittal Of Mellow as triumph OF
their own over the whites, and AT
Chicago, where every step in the IN
vestisation-of the Cronin case exposes
the traces of the powerful secret order
OF foreigners acting against law aud
order.