The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-05-08
Justice Is All That Is Desired.

To THE EDITOR OF THE NEWS:
SIR--Pleuse grant space in your columns
for the instruction of MIR. James u. John
son upon few points which seem abso-
lutely necessary for man posing az he
does to know.
Mr.. johnson took occasion 10 say that
'scertain structures were laid upon the
colored citizens of this city and State by
one who Is not citizen OF this State. -
For that gentleman's benefit / wish to
state that am citizen of the State
OF Rhode Island, and the city of
Providence, having been in the State
The law requires native born Ameri-
can male citizen to be in the state two
years and in the city six months to be-
come citizen. III Mr.. johnson will call
at the City Hall, doutless the registration
authorities will kindly inform him of his
error. / have never and do not now pose
myself as n leader of the thinking colored
citizens of Providence nor any other
class. But 1 do pride myself upon being
among that particular number who
always vote their absolute opinion, and
know the difference between favor an q
duty for which one Is amply rewarded.
This, MIR. johnson has shown himself in
sad need of, and the further he proceeds
the more he gets in the dark. He is SIM
ply unfortunate and needs much SYM
pathy rather than the slightest criticism.
i repeat that the sentiment OF the colored
clerg men. their congregations and all
the thinking colored citizens of PTovi-
dence, is voiced when | say that all they
desire to see in the pending Cook-I.in-
game case is absolute justice for both men,
for no reason other than that they took the
law into their own hands. Mr.. Johnson
admits exactly what | said, when he
states that "they may not represent q
large constituency In the sentiment eX-
pressed in his paper of thanks" The
only difference was, his statement was
vague in the paper of THANKS. IL read,
"the colored citizens OF Providence"
My statement was definite. / said that
there we're iwo classes of citizens, and
that the sentiment upon that paper was
only the sentiment OF few men. i also
stated that the other people desired to see
nothing but justice done. | never did,
and do not now object TO MIR. johnson
thanking the Attorney General.
That Is his privileges and he has per-
feet right TO exercise IL. But IL was not
correct TO say that the colored citizens
were thanking anyone as that paper so
expressed IL. i also objected to the state
ment that "the colored citizens were
much interested in the outcome of the
case because a colored man was the ao-
cuser OF white man.
To this | still object upon good author
ity. j wish to set my opponent right
again. by informing him that all the
evening papers in the city published ac-
counts of the trial. AS 10 the ditii culties
with which tho Attorney General met
during the trial OF these men, IL he con-
tinues 20 perform his whole duty faith
fully, oil the citizens will reward him
when the time comes for another election;
not because he defended a -olored man,
but because he upheld the law and pre-
served the integrity of the state.
Such.thanks the Attorney General will
and can rightly appreciate. I wish TO say
TO Mr.. johnson that he did nothing par
ticularly wrong in thanking the Attorney
General and the press. IL was simply inn
propriety TO do so.
There is difference between impro-
priety and crime.
In speaking O. "justice-loving, beg TO
say that that was the entire gist OF my
former article, and / still MAINTAIN my
position while my opponent continues
to say, THAT MIR. Cook, ing a colored
man. the signers OF that paper OF thankR
were glad 10 SEQ him ret Justice" Tho
thinKing col0rCd citizens are pleased
when man gets iu ..cc because he IL q
man. But they are strongly opposed to
one sort II justice fCr q colorsd man and
another eors OF last ice for white man.
IN Is ridiculous 10 maintain but one
standard Of he NV.
Absolute equality before the law for
oil men alike Is what we want.
ID. T. TOBIAS,
Brown University, MAY z, 'og.
Commissioner smith hns pus sower
gangs TO work Ia CIT swamp, Ofiole ave-