Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-07-21
WEDNESDAY. July q, 1897
vuoLEsoME ADVICE.

II correctly quoted, Pastor Evans
,avne OF one OF the colored churches
( this city. gave his congregation some
cry wholesome advice on Sunday.
II Is said that ne begged his hearers
o frown down the offence which is the
muse of 30 much lynchng in the South
nd that no refused TO take up collec-
ion I'm his church TO pay lawyer Tor
defending the unconsciOnable rascal, file'
This minister IS on the right track.
20 IS doing his people valuable SER
ice. lie IS proving himself ialthiul
hepbcrd. IL is as much the duty Of the
lacks as Of the whites to help punish
II persons of the Fife stripe. But the
net that. ass a rule, they have done
title or nothing TO rcprcss this crime, is
cry significant 1t looks as II the
dfence does not appear very atrociouS
o them. or, worse still, that they do
lot disapprovo it..
This indifference OF the negroes to
rhine which rouses the hot blood of
no whites as nothing else can. is fire.
mently commented upon. And unless
letter day comes. it will finally result
n wide estrangcmcnt of the two races
mi the withdrawal of the greater portion
1sthc funds from which colored schools
ire now supported.
The bulk Of the money out OF which
he colored schools Of Virginia are main
aimed Is paid by white taxpayers. The
most of these persons would chccrfully
consent to bear this burden longer If
hey were satisfied that the negroes
we're prohting by education; but it is a
question whether they are or not. Look
ng only at the prevalence Of "the
lsual crime" and at the statistics Of our
,enal institutions, it would appear That
no moral development of the freedman
nas not kept pace with his educational
development.
And so tho Dispatch, as a true friend
If the colored people and knowing
whereof It speaks, gives warning that
inloss "the usual crime" is put down,
he Constitution of this State may be so
lm6ndod as 10 require a division of the
school fund.
As we have repeatedly pointed out
he crime i'm question is of more frequent
recurrence now than formerly. 1t would
30 no difficult matter for shrcwd
speaker to 80 before the people and
irgue from these premises that freedom
md education instead of making the
aegro better man, have made him a
worse man. We say II would not be diff
.ult to make such an argument.
aor would it be. Yet, we are unwilling
20 condemn the whole race because of
lhee sins OF a few. But this condemna-
lion will inevitably follow unless the
whole race interests itself in bringing
these great criminals 10 justice. In
every community where cOlored people
are numerous there should be organza-
lions of them pledged TO hunt down
these criminals, thereby showing that
their sympathies are not with the mon
sters who defy the law. but with the
law. They ought 10 make il their bust
ness to arrest every such offender. and
as far as possible secure the evidence to
cause his conviction. In that way they
could prove TO the world that they sbhor
the crime ana condemn the criminal
But If they continue inactive or DO
little or nothing TO help enforce the law,
they may expect TO be considered either
as Indifferent TO the crime or actual APP
provers of IL.
The policy adopted by Pastor Payne is
the right one. but we much fear that
some Of his flock will be more inclined TO
censure than to applaud his course. II
So they are making fatal mistake.
The duty OF, the colored people ought
10 be set before them ceaselessy by all
OF their teachers and preachers. And
our word for IT, these will be justified in
telling their race that a continuance of
this crime will not only lead to the
division Of the school funds. but TO the
widest possible breach that mas ever eX-
listed between the two races IN America
or one thing they may be sure-the
crime Is going to be put down! As TO
this. the whites are determined. II In
the fulflment OF this resolution we can
have the aid OF good colored people, so
much the better; but In any event, the
crime must be stopped.
--r~-