The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-01-23
Negro Criminals.
Dr. George 7. Winston Discusses the Question that Puzzles
. the Whole South

St0h, IreSlGSnt OF the University VI
Texas, read paper ON THE Prevention
OF Crime" that was full of interest and
value. OF special interest to the South
was his discussion of the problem OF
negro criminals. The following extracts
from the address throw light on the pro
blem the South is struggling with:
''The problem of crime among our col
ored population is far more difficult to
deal with, but the statistics of the last
census throw light on many of it's most
important phases:
''First-The colored element is more
criminal than any other in our popula-
ton. Their ratio for crime leads all
others in our prisons and reformatorics.
"Second-From 1880 to 1890 there was
an increase of SO Is Per cent in the
ratio of colored criminals to colored pop
ulation; in other words, the colOred pop
uIation was one third more criminal in
1890 than in 1880.
'"rhird-WhiIe 81 per cent of the col
ored population are illiterate, only Oh
per cent of colored criminals are litter
ate. The colored population that can
read and write are more criminal than
the illiterate. This is not true of any
other element of our population.
"Fourth-The ratio of negro prison
ers and of negro paupers to negro popil-
lation is very much higher in the north
ern than in the Southern States. In
the north Atlantic ZIG, north CEN
trail States 1881, in the south central
1854, in the western 9,527. The negro
is nearly three times as criminal in the
North Atlantic rs in the South Atlantic,
over twice as criminal in the north CEN
trial as in the south central, and three
and n half times as criminal i'll the west
ern States as in the South Atlantic. In
short, the negro is fully two and half
times as criminal in the States where he
was free as in these where he was held
in slavery.
"Fifth-Over one-third of the negro
criminals are married, being the largest
ratio of married criminals furnished by
any element of our population, except
ing the Indians. The negro is less de.
TERED from crime by domestic relations
than either the native white or the for
eign white.
"Sixth-IIhe chief crimes committed
by negroes are those against person and
against property Their offenses against
the government and against society are
far less in proportion than those of the
native born or of the foreign born white
elements.
Seventh Nine-tenths of the negro
criminals have no trade.
Eight-The female negro is less
criminal compared with the male negro
than the female white immigrant COM
pared with the male white immigrant
.'Ninth--A smaller percentage of negro
criminals were idle at the time Of arrest
than of criminals native born, foreign
born, Chinese, Japanese or Indians, Idle
ness seems to be less a cause or en-
ployment less a preventive of crime a.
mong the negroes than among any other
element of our population.
"Tenth--A larger percentage Of negro
criminals are total abstainers from liquor
and smaller percentage are drunkards
than in any other element of the pOpu-
lation, excepting the Chinese aud Japan
csc, but a larger percentage are enrolled
as moderate or occasional drinkers than
in any other element, excepting the
Japanese. 1t thus appears that the me-
gro is less restrained by soberness than
the white man, is less influenced by
habitual drunkenness and is more infu-
enced by occasional drinking.
The above facts suggest the follow
ing considerations:
al than the white man, either by nature
or from environment and lack of educa-
tion; be therefore requires more careful
attention and possibly different treatment
from that given the whites.
':Second-The negro is directed to
crime more by temporary impulse than by
idleness and want and is less restrained
by education than the white man.
"Ihird-Ihe negro is lese criminal
when living in large mass and when con-
trolled according TO the theory OF negro
inferiority to the white race than when
living in small numbers, mingling free
u with the white race and controlled
under the theory OF the perfect equality
OF the two races.
''Fourtih--Thc kind Of education that
the negro needs is industrial and moral,
enforeeu by severe restraints, rather
than intellectual culture with freedom
of conduct. After learning to read, write
thing for the negro is industrial and
character training
''Fifth--The negro woman is less GRIM
inal than the foreign Write immigrant
In similar conditions, and therefore in
good material for development. Tile de-
yelopinent of the negro race depends
upon the development of the negro wo-
man. The influence of the home, of the
church and of social custom and opinion
must be brought to bear in the improve
ment of our negro population, and this
can be done only through the patient,
careful and intelligent training Of negro
girls before they arrive at maturity. The
two most important steps to secure this
training are: First, the re-establishment
OF friendly personal relations between
the negro race and the Southern whites,
whereby the southern white woman may
he actively interested in the mental,
religious and industrial improvement Of
the negro girl. This interest existed
during slavery and produced as beneficial
results as could be expected under n
slave system, but the political animosi-
ties of the last twenty-five years have
nearly destroyed it. If re-established 1t
would accomplish more for the improve
ment of the negro than the education
now offered him in the public schools.
1T is my belief that the southern wo-
man would cheerfully and religlously
undertake this Herculean task if the
negro would allow it, but it can not be
done SO long as the two races are IN
solid political antagonism.
Il AI,r 4s