The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-01-20

ana what stimulus does hope exert upon
hlmY Alas in the present condition OF
public sentiment he can have but little
hope, and it can supply him with small in
centlve. And wby2 Because he is looked
| upon with contempt us degraded in.
ieerlor, simply by vrture OF having black
skin.
"A negro may be pious. learned or dis
tlnguished; he may have rendered great
service TO his country or to humanity; he
may be honored in France, England or
Germany, but when he comes among us.
| VINO are superior to the flower of Europe,
he Is at once sent TO Coventry. II he
should obtain accommodations ut hotels,
he receives them suneptitously, and il
any family, be il clerical, professional or
mercantile, should receive him, except as
an inferior and Us an act of condcscension,
as we sometimes invite interiors 10 take a
seat IN cur presence, that family is at once,
! or would be, put under the social ban.
Not only II one is u negro, but ii he has, or
Is even suspected 10 have, one drop OF ne
gro blood. he is placed under almost every
disadvantage, and he can never feel sale
from snubs, insults or even kicks from the
superior whites. In other words, the ne
gro is the victim Of caste.
RACE PREJUDICE MUST co.
'The first and most. important step TO
take in the elevation of the negro is To
mollly and finally to obliterate race and
color preiudce-a prejudice by no means
peculiar to the South or TO white and
black races. Many glory in prejudice,
ioolishly thinking 1t mark OF superiority,
but prejudice is always weakness, and
when II is extreme il is badge OF dis
honor. Southernes cannot bc true TO
their lofty character to he either unwilling
or incapable of overcoming color preju-
dice, much less true to their interests.
The iirst duty resting upon MS in this
respect Is 10 see that in criminal matters
that is to say, matters OF life and liberty
the scales of justice hang more level be-
tween whites and black; that the hand Of
Justice bear more equally upon the two
colors, and that both are punished alike
for similar oiienses. II would be reason
able 10 intlict heavier penalties upon the
whites, because they occupy much
higher plane socially, morally and intel
lcctually, and are therefore less excusable
for violating the law. We must see that
our courts Of justicc-the most august and
bencliccnt product Of civiliNtion-arc an
equal refuge Tor the wronged OF all colors
and an equal terror To all wrong doors, ir-
respective OF previous condition. The law
is the same for ALL The trouble Is in the
Interpretation oil the laws 10y the juries,
who merely voice public sentiment. which
Is superior 10 the law Itself The Jury is
subjected 10 all kinds OF influences, though
mostly Of a sentimental character.
"ln criminal cases where whites are
concerned, il seems ever 10 lean 10 the
side OF The defense and frequently brings
in verdict Of acquittal where guilt il
clearly manifest. The negro has none oi
these sentimental advantages and the Jury
without difficulty brings in verdict
against him. The negro may be rightly
punished aud he may receive no more
than his just deserts, hut II this is so,
then the white receives less than his due
deserts; or # the white IS judged none TOO
lcnicntly. then the ncgfo is Judged
altogether too haBhly. As long ~ the
negro sees tins state OF affairs continue
NJ long rs justice appears 10 slip aside her
bandngc when he is brought before her
august tribunal, and judge him according
TO his present and previous condition, he
must hc bowed down with dread and
humiliation, aud whatever hope he may
have nourished must die within HIM"
Proceeding Ia his discussion this broad
minded Nirginian takes up tho question,
"Arc the negroes treated uninirly by
jurics and public OpiniOn2 lie answers,
Eyes, and adds:
zone cardinal proof is that n white man
seldom receives punishment for au assault.
however brutal, unpfoyOkcd, cOwarlly, bc
Il manning, homicide or murder, upon q
negro. unless. ionooth. the ussnilant be-
some degraded creature drowned by his
own caste. OF the numbcrlcss instances.
running into the thousands, during The
past twcnty-thrvo ycars, Of homicdcs and
murders OF blacks by whites, there il no
single instance Of capital punishment, aud
a icw-ycry icw-instanccs oi imprison.
mcnt beyond n few months In jiil or q
slight fine. The fict Is that the jurics.
which atc the sole judges Of the evidence,
will accept testimony against negro that
they would reject in the case oi whites,
and on the other hand, will ircqontly re-
jcct, or NJ least discrcdit, testimony oi the
negro against this white man, however
well supported IL may be.
"ln the ease OF q difficulty between
white and black and the former Is injured
OF LOSES his life, lucky is the negro ID the
homicide h not declared los the mbblo 10
be- murder. When courts oi Justice,
though SURE 30 inlict the highest penalty,
are found 10 be- too slow lac IL dragged forth
aud slain, unshriycn. as II be were q mon
stfous Wild beast.
INDIVIDUAL CoSppoENsioV.
notwithstanding all this the whites arc
individually Just to the negro. They are
much moro cUnsidpmtUoi biz feelings than
are Northern people As q rule, however
this kindness j. bestowed aB c0ulc-crnsiun
aud Il must be- received with al due hu.
mility and tacit acknowledgement Oi IN
leriOfity Ol status, los let tho negro brlray
even moderate sense Of equality or man.
hood ho il then thought 'impudcnt and
their kindness takes allront. Until the
negro secs aud feels that the community
fully recognizes that couflsoi Justice are ~
much q refuge Tor him anil ~ much bul.
wark Of his lie aud liberty, as well ~ for
the highest and proudcsi, be can never
feel suru ~ his position. Is long as what
hc enjoys iB by favor or condosccnsi0n, he
can never be- certain that what hc enjoys
today may not be- arbitrarily wrcstcd FROM
him tomorrow. aud until he secs that
what be enjoys h boy inalcnablc right can
be have the sense Of security aud man
hood that arc essential Tor an efficient
wealth producer
Quite q considerable portion 81 the cs-
gay Is devoted t0 the exclusion OF negroes
| from hotels. churches, thuatcrs aud from
public and official receptions IN the south
/ by hostile caste sentiment.
"UnlcH bis hope Is 70 be blasted and
/ his spIf.fpspfct crushed the negro must