Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1896-06-20
PECULIAR CRITICISM.


existence OF bad blood between fac
lions il says:
"No one familiar with the sentiment
existing among the republican voters
Of Jackson Ward doubts but that, not
the factioual feeling in
the Ward, Mr. John Mitchell, was the
choice OF the majority of the voters
and that so far as they voted. they be-
lieved they voted for him. but the
election law settled the election.
This man is deservedly popular
among the voters, and the race gener-
ally, not so much for what he has beent
able to accomplish as a journalist in
the interest of those charged with the
commission OF felonies, but on account
OF the motive by which, il is believed /
that he was Rctuated.
And again:
ave fear that sympathy such IS he
has manifested, and others have shown
in Negroes accused of crime, has been /
mistaken and unwise concerning some |
who have wantonly placed themselves |
in positions TO be suspected of crime, |
and who have committed crime, con- |
scious that the whole race would suf- |
fer in it's character on account OF their !
actions. Oppose lynching in itself, but
exercise judgment in deciding upon the
guilt or innocence of accused persons
whether they be white or black.
This gentleman has, it is feared
taken counsel oftener of his heart than
OF his head. The result OF this gentle
mans honest course, and that OF 9TH
ers who have acted as he has. has
been to impress both the friends and
the enemies OF the Negro that he is
wanting in moral perception, deficient
in moral sense by his and some others
attitude toward Negroes accused OF
crime.
We have made this depression, which
pardon. Our purpose is to show that
this defeat which the republicans have
suffered is not to be charged to the
factional feeling existing in the Re-
publican Party OF the Ward, but it is
the logical sequence of the existence
Of the law under which elections are
had in Virginia"
1t should not be forgotten that the
Blanket" sided with one of the fac
tons and that the above remarks con-
stitute a skillful attempt to get from
under and avoid any part OF the re-
sponsibility for the robbery.
It's faction furnished the excuse to
the Democrats, the small vote polled
was not sufficient to have changed the
results.
1t says:
Neither Mitchell's personal or po-
litical enemies had power to defeat
him, but the election law is more po-
tent than either or both"
The BLANKET" forgets that this
election law is no greater fraud than
was its predecessor, and that it was
simply a question as to when shey
should take that which they had hith-
erto permitted US to have But it is
with the outrageous declaration that
we have been mistaken and unwise
concerning some, who have wantonly
placed themselves in positions TO be
suspected of crimes and who have
committed crime"
This is reiteratson of the charge
that we have defended guilty people.
With the jails and penitentiaries
filed with people who have no right
to be there, with innocent people be-
ing lynched and legally executed, this
journal would have us remain silent
and witness the preparation of such
outrages.
Was SIMON s. WALKER, the 10 year
old colored boy, accused of rape gull
ty, and sentenced to be hanged guilty
If so, why did white people and color
ed ones, the parents OF the white girl
who ne Is alleged 10 have wronged ali,
finally the Governor of this grea
: commonwealth exercise their influ
ence and power in his behalf with tn
result that his life was saved?
Was ISAAC JENKINS guilty of burnin
a house and poisoning horses7 II &c
why was it that jury of white me
said he was not guilty2
Was PoKEY BARNES guilty OF muir
der, II so, why did the commonwealth
d attorney admit that she was innocen
Is by saying he had no case against herr
k Is MARY BARNES in the penitentiar
/ guilty of murder in the second degree
II so, why does Mr.. POLLARD. the hul
,, band of the murdered lady declar
d that at the time his wife was murder
!, ed, she was working in the field wit
Ie him2
Is NARY AsERNATHY guilty of mul
der2 If so, why did she shroud ii
body of Mrs. POLLARD, and why n,
- none of the stolen plumber, blood {
other evidences of crime been trace
=, to her?
Of We claim that the only way to lega
lie ly ascertain the guilt or innocence
Of those accused of crime is by the law.
The fact that grievous blunders al
ID made as in the cases referred to SHOW
d the absolute unreliability of IL
le processes in vogue in Judge Lynch's
70 court.
TO We are in favor of furnishing guilt
in people, be they white or black.
We are opposed to lynching guilt
Y. people. be they white or black.
Every citizen is sworn to recognii
and obey the law. When. he lynches
- prisoner. no matter how apparent h
Of guilt or heinous his crime, he violate
1t his oath and becomes a party to an o
q Tense more heinous than that whic
/ he claims to have punished.
y Lynching is anarchy, and there is 7
a greater danger to the republic itse
than the existence of this evil.
20 The laws as enacted are the result
IN of centuries of experience. We cal
not improve upon them by increasir
as their severity in the face of an aggri
50 waited wrong
he There is no crime for which a pul
lie ishment is provided. and we asse
that our efforts are perfectly legit
- mate and proper, and have been ar