Richmond planet., 1898-01-15

our energies toward the enlarge msnt
OF oHr freedom and not toward re-eR-
slavement in any form whatever.
2nd The erection and maintaining
of reformatories properly belong TO the
police department. of the state which
is abandantly able to take care of it.
self without any special assistance
from US
5rd. We are literally disfranehised
and taxed without epresentatiekI -,
the very cause for which the colonies
rebelled sgainst England and waged q
seven years war for Independents.
4th Some OF the best talent in the
State among the white people wide the
editorials of the Richmond Times, one
of the most ably edited newspapers OF
the South) are taxing their ing nuity TO
devise means by which the colored peo
pie can be iegally and successfully dis
f;snchised, and we ought not to lend
our aid thereto.
5tb. It is idle to say that the col
ored boys sent to the said reformatory
will not ultimately be disfrsnchised.
and that they cannot disfranchise the
colored toys without also disfranchis-
ing the white ones. (who make the
laws? who execute and enforce them
Do not the white people ? Are the
colored voters of Jackson Ward and OF
"black belt" disfranchised without dis
fran chising the whites of the same
ward and section7
9Th. The colored people have no
part nor say in the making OF the laws
in this State. No part in the judiciary
nor the police, And they are practi-
cally debarred from serving on the ia
riss
7th. We have no right TO impose this
additional burden upon our people,
thousands of whom, If not enlightened
will contribute OF their means, under
the belief that they would be benefit
ing their race,
Sth The white people have practi-
cally disfranchIsed us and taken pos
session of the law making power. the
judiciary and the police. Let them
bear ali the expens of erecting and
supporting prisons and they viii not
be st. really 10 send our people TO
prison for every trivial offence.
9Jh. IL we wish to display and ex-
ert our philanthropy, there are ample
fields-ssy lums for our deaf, dumb aud
blind; our orphans; homes Tor our
aged and infirm; institutions for the
| higher education as we'll as for the in
dusIrisl education Of our youth All
these the white people OF our State
have ana had them long before they
ever thought OF esIaOlIs hing a reforma-
tory for the incorrigabie boys of their
race.
10 We should not put premium
upon the commission vi crime by tax
1 ing ourselves 60 train the CRIMINALS If
our race before making liberal provi.
sions for the promotion of the laud abb
ambition of the worChy and properly
behaved youth amongst Us.
white people nave their reformatory at
Laurel for white boys, they also have
their orphan asylums; their asylums
for their deaf, dumb and blind o.
Staunton their William and MARI
College at Williamsburg; iheIr Univer-
sity at Charlottesville; their Military
Institute ana Washington UniversiES
aG Lexington their Agricultural aud
Mechanical ILs .itute at FarmvlIle
Virginia, etc, supported in part 10y
Jour tsxes, our chIIuren being exclud
ed thsrefrOm while the children oi
strangers from all over this country
and even Europe may be admitted II
they be white.
ali these. What have wef Echo an
sw ers, -whaJ2 2"
/ want a reformatory, but / want
these other things first, becauseraccord-
ing 10 all logical rules OF reasoning
they ought 10 come first. We snOulC
care for the worthy members of oul
family who are an honor Co It before W,
care for the reprobates who are dis
grace TO it.
have tried here to give reason To-
the faith that is in me, and l think
have said enough TO convince any rea
sonable mind JnaS / am not dogmatica
In my opposition TO the colnreu peopl,
erecIing and supporting a refOrmatOry
but that am only opposed under TIT
cncun.s ancss. Change TIE cIrcum
stances, AMI l am heart and soul witt
: wnaT / now ana under the present cir
cumsLances oppose.
My idea is, that until the white peo
/, pie Of the State allow Us representa-
tion IN the law-maklng, Judicial and 20
Ice power OF the SLa1o, we should no
iesl ourselves called upon TO vo.unLee
our services IN bearing the burdens IN
cldent apon caring iOr the criminal
whom white judges, waite common
wealth attorneys and white jurIes con
Wet. -
: Every white boy SEW to the Laure
RefOrmasory Is arrested by a White oI
icer. convicted by waite judge, jnr
. OR justice VINO viii see 10 IL That he
.. not needlessly nor improperly sen
there.
nave studied this question deepl
; since IL has been under discussion !
: our valuable paper, and ths more
stuCy il, the more / see why / shOuI
oppose, una er tue present eiCeumsEaI
ces, The erecLlon and sutpOrG vi u rt
= IOrmaCory by the colOred people OF Jhl
y State for the boys VI our race.
Most of the OIDer states which hav
reIOrmatUrles make appropriation IL
their maintenance Nirs. FANNIE
SDlth OF Washington IN her liter Fl
ferred TO tells you that there are wv
refOrmAtorles ia the District of OOlun
r bia for boys and girls, but she dl0 nt
tell you, that Congress makes amp
,. Appropriation for Lnelr support. on
must nave known il, but possibly owe!
IOOke q It.
:, There is great deal mere that
would ike 20 say on TINS subject, an
which consider necessary 10 a prop.
8 understanding DOJh of my position aa
% the subject lsself. but L greatly IL
; like 10 De prOIlx and ITear mat are al
the 4ongJn Of inns article greatly el
dai gers the chances OF It's ever Deit
- soen Dy the puDiIc.
Yours rruly.
I'll y. NJ. STEWARD.