Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-08-11

Wisely and slow; they stumble that run
fast So wrote Shakespeare, and time, which
has upset so many things in the years that have
gone out Of existence since those words were
penned, has failed to make that advice less
sound. Those good citizens who now advocate
. change IN the administration Of local police
affairs would. il they have the best interests Of
this people at heart, do well to heed the coun-
sci; would do well to remember that the basis
on which are founded most Of the complaints
against Col Moore are located in the heart OF
that class Of people which loses nothing but a
little money or less valuable liberty when COM
peeled to face the consequences of wrong-doing.
The fact that these sources of complaint are
colored should not enter into the argument
thev are simply residents of the District, pos
sessed Of all the rights which belong to citizen
ship and amenable to all the penalties that are
consequent upon crime-but those through
whom the grievances in question have been
noised abroad have elected to make their attack
upon Col. Moore with that oft-times suicidal as
well n murderous weapon, race prejudice.
Should the result Of the conflict be disastrous
to the more bloodthirsty wielders Of the two
edged blade they may look in vain for sympa-
thv from many Of their own people.
1t is undeniably true that while but 30
per cent Of this city's population is col
ored, more than ffty-four per cent Of the
crime is committed by the debased members of
this minority. The official records disclose a
startling preponderance Of misbehavior BY col
ored people. During the fiscal year which
closed June 30. 1s91-the latest easily available
fgures-of the eight murders committed six
were By colored men. There were IA arrests
for HOUSEKEEPING and 1O1 of The prisoners were
eolored. One hundred and sixty-one colored
persons were charged with assault with intent
TO kill out of total Of 220 cases. There
were III arrested for grand larceny, and of
these So were colored Nine hundred and sew
enty-four of the colored minority were impris-
oned for assault and battery out of the 1,4S6
cases that came before the courts. while 3S9
colored men and women participated in ARRAYS
against 325 charged to people of other races.
In the carrying of concealed weapons the
minority also in the majority: there were
$50 cases and of these POI belong to those
who are now threatening official de-
capatation of the chief of police.
Out of 22s cases where petit larceny was
charged 1872 were against colored children
under sixteen wears of age, and out of $50
charges for the same alleged commissions. 26O Of
the accused were between eighteen and twenty
one years of age. This Is truly deplorable
state of affairs; one which NAV. perhaps, right
Itself in time. but which would be corrected
more speedily were some of the energy
now being used in behalf of some law
less people, devoted TO the cause
Of mental and moral elevation 1t
is true that police officers may have been
foreible. even to brutality, in the handling of
come prisoners, but il Will not be denied that
there are comparatively few cases where limo
cent parties have had just cause for complaint
There may have been instances where police
men who were improperly violent have escaped
punishment, but they were exceptions to the
wer-nigh infexible rule Already is there
among the lower order of colored people a
lamentsble and growing tendency toward def
anee Of those who represent law and order. a
tendency which would seem 20 have been fos-
tered BY some Of those whose livelihood springs
from and wakes great upon the openly unlawful
conduet Of others. This downward movement,
this confounding Of liberty and license must
be checked in the interests Of the whole cornmu-
nifty, white and black
Some of the agitators in this movement
against Col Moore are colored citizens of good
replte and they should be careful how they
allow themselves to be drawn into a course |
which viii have only the result of giving prac- |
teal aid and comfort to the worthless and law !
less elements Of their race. The large respect |
able and intelligent portion Of the colored |
citizenship Of the District have as much /
interest as the whites in the maintenance of law !
and order at the national capital, and they |
should rebuke any attempt to commit them /
through race sympathy to any antsgonism to |
the efficient execution of the law and the en-
forcement Of order