Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-08-05
Friendly Advice to Negroes.

To the Editor Of The Evening Star:
notice every little while that an indigra-
tion meeting is held by colored citizens to
protest against the action of the police in their
treatment of colored persons arrested. 1t is
quite possible that there have been cases in
which a policeman has been too ready to use
his club. but when one considers the character
and conduct of the negro rOughs with whom
they have to deal II Is not to be wondered at
As tine daily record shows. when n policeman
attempts to arrest of these young negro
men, or women either. he does at the peril
of his life. The most of them go armed with
revolver or a razor, and if not they resort to
the use of bricks. stones or anything within
their reach: and Ill many if not majority of
Gases their companions join in the attack on
the policeman One has only to read the daily
accounts published III the papers and as tes-
titled to In the Police Court to see that such is
the condition of affairs; and what makes it
worse l. the fact that III most cases the negro
Is drunk.
The police report for the year ending June
%. 1880. shows as follows: Assaults on police
men. by whites -. by colOred 81: assaults
on special officers, 25-by whites 9, by col
ored IL.
Last year three policemen were killed by
negroes, two when attempting TO arrest them
and there Is scarcely year that this does not
occur.
In THE STAR of December "a. 1888. it was
stated that there were then in Jail. awaiting
trial sentence for murder. i6 persons 2
white and "A cclorad. In The =, 81 of March 26
1870. II was stated that there were then or the
CALENDAR Is murder trials. and in The STAR of
December 30 1883. II "; stated that there had
been in The District during the year u muir
dcrs, the greater portion of which was by
neg Oes. Now. when il Is boz ne in mind that
they constitute but one-third of the popula-
ton. II viii be seen that this is a terrible
record.
Why dent they quietly submit to the arrest
as respectable whit citizens do; If they have
net committed any offense of course they will
be acquitted, and although it is not pleasant to
be arrested ii Is infinitely better to submit to
this temporary Inconvenience than to resort to
violence ana incur a much worse punishment
II the colored people will behave themselves the
police will not trouble them. but if they will insist
ON getting drunk and fighting and quarreling
continually they must expect to suffer the con-
queness the same as other people. have
lived here thirty years and the police have
never troubled me-
One Of the most Encouraging facts to the
friends of The negro in this connec-
ton is that ihe great mass of the
crime committed here is by the younger
generation of the colored people. those who
have grown up since the war and since they
have become free. One " Juld naturally suppose
that it would be the reverse-that the old and
the ignorant, those brought up in slavery,
would be the principal offenders, but such is
not the case. 1t is seldom that the older ones
are arrested. and when they are it is generally
for some petty offense, seldom for violent
crimes.
What makes 1t more dishteartening is that
here they are in every respect in the full enjoy
ment of all their legal rights and in all partic-
ulars are on "a perfect equality as citizens with
the whites. They have the same privileges in
the schools, are taught the same branches, have
the same school buildings, and there is the
same amount per capita spent for them as for
the whites. They are abundanty provided
with churches and Sunday schools, and, in al
iitIon. have tn. example OF some of the ablest
and most cultured Of their race residing here
In our midst.
That they have vastly improved mentally
and financially Is apparent, but In the matter
OF crime and vice it Goes seem though a
large portion Of them have absorbed or
! adopted all the vices aud but few Of the virtues
OF the whites That there many who
industrious and honest is true, but il is equally
true that a large portion of the younger ones
\ are vicious and ready to commit the most
violent CRIMES ON the slightest provocation or
I without any. Another discouraging feature is
/ The TACT thai they almost universally resent the
/ ADVICE o. such OF their white friends as attempt
TO point out To them the evil results of their
course and endeavor to induce them to reform
anu presume this article will call forth very
ihulSnant protests from SOME of that class.
but they Will learn IN time that protests and
/ Indignation VIII only serve to disgust their true
FRIENDS and lead them to desist from making
, efforts TO better the condition Of the race.
| Ii seems to me that these professors could do
| Tar more to benefit their people by spending
their time and efforts in trying to induce them
| to lead better lives. to become peaceable and
quiet citizens, to stop their drinking and gam
bling and. above all, to quit the bad habit of
| carrying concealed weapons. for which there ia
not shadow Of excuse, and which is a con ,tant
| ineitement to crime. Another method bv
which they can do much good is to get the
thousands Of negro boys and girls who loaf
about the streets. saloons. pool rooms, &c.
where they are being rapidly educated as hard
cases and criminals, into school or into service,