Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1893-08-06
Ri,hnn rnrn,r,s Letter.


ATLANTA. GA, July 22.-Mr. BIZ
Arp-Dear Sir: l am regular reader
of your Sunday articles to the C0nstuu-
tton when am at home, and even when
| am absent the papers are saved so
that may peruse them II time permits.
While concur In vast deal that you
saw, it sometimes happens that am
compelled 10 differ, although l regard
you as an honest, bold writer. fully
recognize the fact that white man In
this section Of the country must re-
spect the popular prejudice that exists
against my race or forfeit his influence
among the whites. No white man
dares to speak in defense OF the negro
and command the respect OF the whites
IL matters not whether the negro is en-
titled 10 it or not. You, however, pos
sess the courage to occasionally say
kind word in our behalf. But In the
Sunday issue of The Constitution you in
nocenty, and l believe conscientiously,
but ignorantly, make use OF sentence
that is not wholly true. Nevertheless
| am not surprised at your lack OF bet
ter information, because you have never
had the opportunity OF informing your
self TO the extent that would enable you
to speak authoritatively.
You say: "Their inclination (the ne
gro's) TO steal is natural" You doubt
less intend to convey the idea, by using
the term natural" that the African
races are instinctIvely given to stealing;
for IL II is natural IL is as much their
nature to steal as IL is to be black, TO
have curly hair, or to be separate
race in any particular. Please allow one
who knows as much Of the negro as any
one who breathes the breath OF life, ana
certainly knows more Of him than IL Is
possible for any white man to know
one who knew the negro as slave,
knows him as a freeman, knows him In
civilized Africa and knows him In
heather Africa, TO inform you that the
negro races naturally are the most hon
est specimens OF humanity that tread
the globe, and the most virtuous. 10
find the natural inclinations or instincts
OF the African races you must go TO
heather Africa; not upon the African
coast, where civilization and
heathenism commingle, but go back
into the interior, as L have gone,
and mIngle with the heather In
their natural state and condition, and
you will find no such thing as theft. You
may lose your watch, coat, hat or any
thing regardless OF It's value and the
FIRST African who passes by will hang
the thing OF value upon the limb OF
tree by the roadside and $1,000 will pass
by IL and not one will touch II, which
can be said for no other part OF the
globe that have ever visited or heard
OF, after iorty-fiv i've years OF reading. AS
for their virtue, mean morals In gem
eral, telling the truth, chastity among
the feminine sex, and the males as well,
outside OF poygamy, which Is oy no
means universal, they excel any other
unciviliZed races upon the race OF the
globe. In regard TO the petty larceDies
which exist in this country among my
race where their natural incliDatlons
have been distorted by series OF cir
camstances, which | shall not at present
attempt to enumerate, shall say nota-
Ing.
II the Wholesale charge you bring
against the negro 10 regard 10 petty
larceny be true, which / contend mas
grown out OF bis abDormalized environ
ments associated with the WAITS OF CIV
ilization which his poyertoes condition
prevented him from supplying, am
very grateful that you do US the justice
of restricting It 10 petty larceny, Tor
one white man will steal as much a. a
single grab as q thousand negroes will
steal in forty years. This has been
verified within the last decade oy q
number Of State treasurers. who nave
uocketed over a million Of dollars.
II the American negro will steal from
the white people II is some consoiatloG
to know that be will take little ana
leave much. Comment upon THIS point
is unnecessary. Jutsice and nonor ootn
compel me, however, TO admit tnas
much you say about the negro IS 100
true, but I cannot endorse your posi-
ton in condoning the lynch MODS Of the
and: as every man is Innocent accord
ing TO the theory and genius Of ciVil,
lied nations, until be is tried and fonnd
guilty by a jury OF his peers, equals or
associates. Yours respectfully,
Fl. NJ. TURNER