Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1898-08-13
TO 0RY FOX DELIvERANOE.

1.-THE colored people as a race might
well cry for deliverance from them
selves or from that indiscreet and reck-
less element OF themselves capable OF
such conduct as that of the eth Cavalry
regiment at Tampa last Friday night
IN defying the civil authorities and
taking one OF their comrades from the
custody OF the law."-Petersburg. Va,
Index Appeal.
The white people as q race might
well cry for deliverance from them
selves or from the iudiscreet and reck-
less element of themselves capable of
such conduct as that of the Third
Virginia Infantry at Camp Alger, Vs.,
last Tuesday in defying the civil and
military authorities and attempting to
lynch a citizen of color. How does
that sound. esteemed contemporary
Yet it is applicable to the Rough Rid
ers in Florida and to the Maryland
Volunteers at Old Point, Va. The
western volunteers (white) were gull
ty of similar conduct at Newport News,
Va.
Why should this condition affect US
as race any more than this disgrace
full conduct cited affects the whites as
a race
The trouble is. these colored troops
under white officers are initiating their
alleged superiors and no complaint
should come from that quarter.
The INDEx-APPEAL remarks:
"Such wanton disregard of law and
order, added to the horrible crime
az ainst society which has become Pc
culiar TO that race, will retard and ulti
mately defeat the efforts of the better
ele ments of the colored people to ad-
vance themselves in civilization and
social progress"
The disregard of law and order has
become a pastime throughout the
south. Rape is IS common among
white men as it is among colored ones.
The proper course TO pursue is to
races and tc exact rigid conformity
to the statutes.
Criminal assault by a colored man is
no more heinous than criminal assault
by Jhe'white one.
In fact according to ethics, in the
commission of crime. the intelligent is
more 80 blame than the ignorant. Ac-
cording to your reasoning, you reverse
this condition. The INDEx-APPEAL
says:
1.-THE highest punishment which the
government should visit upon this regi-
ment would be to disband it and drive
it from the army in Disgrace"
That may be. And yet community
which does not respect and obey its
own laws cannot expect visiting troops
to do otherwise than follow its exam :
pie. And again:
1--WE mean, OF course, that part OF the
regiment guilty of the offense. The
rest of the regiment behaved with
courage and proper discipline before
the enemy at Santiago, and should re-
ceive proper praise for their conduct.
But their comrades at Tampa have
proved themselves disgrace to the
military service of the United States
anu cAO0lO NC CA BCAACA AAOAl IL.
Well, on with the expulsion of them
and make the order applicable to all OF
the regiments guilty of similar of.
lenses.
When that is done, the INDEx-AP.
PEAL will hear "howl" from Maine &c
Texas and the depletion of 1.-The ranks
will be as great as it is by yellow-feve1
in Cuba.
Let us get rid of the lawless ele-
ments, white and colored. You begir
at the white end and pitch them out
and we'll do service at the black end
and soon finish our task.
We must have good behavior in the
army.