Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1898-01-29
RICHMOND, VA, Jan. ID, 1898

RICHMOND, VA, Jan II, 1898
EDITOR OF THE PILoT:-In your is
sue of January Sth, have read your
article entitled XII This Bill" This
article is based upon clipping from
the Richmond Planet" 1 take it
that some OF the indignation expressed
in your article is caused by the sup
posed fact that Mr.. Murphy. the pa
tron OF the Whipping Post Bill, is an
Irishmsn and Catholic.
THE PLANETS QUERIES.
Let me quote the paragraph you
have quoted from the Planet and
which appears in the beginning OF
your editorial.
And who is SIR. Murphy? He is an
Irishman A man who with his breth-
rem in this country has appealed for
sympathy for his down-trodden coun-
trymen in Ireland, declaring that Eng
land was ruliRg them with an iron rod.
What would he say were the Queens
Government to establish a whipping
post throughout the Emerald Isle?
Would not his blood boil and his tongue
wag at the suggestion of such thing?"
BAsKLEss CHARGE.
Now. Mr. Editor, without the slight
est inquiry on your part as to whether
the facts stated in the foregoing ex
tract were true or not, you not only be-
came indignant with the people of our
race here, but with the whole South
ern people 1t does seem tn me that
before writing on this subject you
should first become possessed of the
true facts in the case. Let me ask the
same question asked by the Planet and
answer it with truth.
MoRE ABOUT THE MURPHYs.
And who is Mr. Murphy? Mr.. Thoma
BRUcR Murphy was botn in Westmore
land County, Virsinia, in 1888. He il
the son of James Balentine and SusaI
Lowe Murphy. His grandfather, Muir
dock Malcolm Murphy, came to Vir
giEia from Edinburgh, Scotland, and
settled in Westmoreland. So it seem
that Mr.. Murphy is not an Irishman o
the descendant of an IrishmaR, bu
thst, as far back as he can trace hi
ancestry, he is Scotch.
-HE METHODIST CHURCH OWNS him
desire to s=y further that Mr.. Muir
ply is not a Catholic, but belongs,
believe, to the Methodist Church.
course it may seem strange that on
Murphy should not be an Irishman
but surely the editor of THE Pilot
has heard OF "A white blackbird
deem it right to say here that Nj
Murphy is man held in high esteer
by those who know him
THE WORK OF ENLIGHTENMENT.
Let me now enlighten the editor {
'The Pilot" a little more There
hnrA e..w = o. ~ - 81
Virginia Legislature. He Is Mr.. W
F. Reddy, of Richmond, who repre-
sents in part the capital city in tn
House of Delegates Not only is MI
Reddy opposed to this bill, but he
. considered as one of the leaders /
the fight which will be made againl
the bill
THINKS 1T WILL NOT PASS
quote from the Evening Leader
of January 10th: 1.-The Murphy bill 1
re-establish the whipping-post wi
not pass the General Assembly. no
withstanding it has been favorably r
ported in the House. Some of thoi
who voted to report the measure a
said TO have done so in order that Il
subject might be fully discussed {
the floor of the House. Mr.. Rsddy
Richmond is one of those who W
fight the bill" / should also sta
that Mr.. Reddy opposed the bill
committee.
DECLINES TO DISCUSS THE BILL.
Now it seems to me, Mr. Edit,
that by jumping at conclusions y
may have slandered our race and o
religion in the South. 1 shall not
cuss the Whipping Post Bill here,
LIDO ask that in the future when lul
news is published in the colored !
pers of the SoHth, yOa will investigi
its truth or falsity before writing 20
editorials. I might add that two ye,
ago Mr.. Murphy introduced g simil
bill which was defeated.
hope it will be your pleasure
give to this letter as prominent pls
as you gave TO your own article.
A VIRGINIA IRIsHMAN.