Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1889-06-20
A Pertinent Inquiry.
IOOMMUNIOATED.l

thb.
VIII some one be xii d enough to in.
form an inquiring public why the police,
VINO have been so efficient In arfestIng
colored men and boys for particitation in
the riot OF Thursday night, June 18Th,
on Monroe street, have failed 10 arrest
any OF the whites who undoubtedly were
engaged in the iracas by which one life
was lost and two boys wounded. Are
we to believe that this sad affair was the
result OF deliberate, piemedltated devil
ment on the part OF the blacks alone,
who, without the least cause or provoca-
tion on the part OF the whites, did de-
liberately, wiliul y aud mallciously dis
charge firearms Into crowd OF innocent
snd inotieDsive people. This no one can
or will believe who has tue elightest
knowledge OF the vicinity OF the scene of
the crime. That the drum corps WAS at
tackled there 10 no doubt; that they ran
and were pursued ia certain.
The question tor decisl 10 were these
men neelnR from come imaginary danger
or was It from danger in realityl We're
they lying from their own shadows or
missiles hurled at them by the white
rouRhs, who nightly congregate around
this immediate neighborhuod, an we are
led to conclude that the last is correct
HcbA Nps o"u huoWiUhkc Vi tut Ciufb OI
people who frequent this part OF the
town, who have ever been standing
menace and terror 10 the rights, privileges,
space and safety OF colored people who
have been compelled to travel either on
business OF their own, or for others
That their funerals have been mole ted lie
true, aud that their paradCs have been
stoned is certain, let the occasion be
what IL would or may. The police force
with this knowledge In their possession
and verified by witnesses IN the present
investigation, and by facts OF recent at
tacks Aimee the 18th, have failed to arrest
single white person, but have persisted
steadily In placing the blacks on the de-
fensive and holding them up TO the scorn
and ridieule as the promoters, without
cau:6. oil strife aud disorder, TO satisfy
an l. norent aud morbid nature.
Now 1t is not fair and just to presume
that these coloTed people were assaiied
by these ruffians and that they were not
/ particular in the choice OF their weapons
OF attack, but used stones and revolvers
as well, and who knows but what these
wounds were inflicted by sone white
man or boys pistol. (But here remem-
, bel that no stones or missiles were thrown
In the way OF the corps.) And why was
HO hutlC ~ 10 cNluCh'
| that there was O riot between the blacks
and whites, but still only one class to
the affair have been arrested. If the re-
spousibility must be located, ard II
should, let all OF the participants who
are known or who can be proven was en-
Gagged in 1t be aprrehended. Let each
| class stand on an equal footing in the In
vestigatlop, white and black alike.
The duty owed by the ofllcers Of u,
law to the community demands of ,htff
the arrest of all concerned, and a fall
and impartial investigation. Let the In
curry be thorough and rigid, every par
| ticip mt be apprehended, and let each bea
his own share Of the responsibility fol
The II e Of Wright and the wounds Of tn,
others. We have right to expect ant
demand, as citizens, that there shall b,
no repetition OF the drama of Decembel
20, 1855 but that where street fl Il hts
riots and melces occur b tween whitei
and blacks, that each guilty person shal
/ be made responsible. For II but one
side is punished, II lays taat side liabl,
at all times to moleslation from the un.
PUNISHED. Respectfully,
| a. r. HFNRy