The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1899-05-11
(Atlanta COnstitutiOn.)

which editorial prominence is given
because of the present Importance of
the question:
| ''EDITOR CONSTITUTION: In re-
spOnse to your editorial brief, which
appeared in the Constitution of Mon
day morning, this day, relating to the
duty of the negro ministers to their
respective congregations at this par
ticular trying time to all people, per-
nit me to say, the time of the careful
newspaper reporters would not be
wholly lost if they might, in such a
trying period, visit the representa-
tive and thoughtful ministers and
men Of our race, and secure from
them carefully prepared statements
relative to the fearful and tragic
events which have, though diverse
in nature, followed each other with
such startling and fearful rapidity.
''Referring particularly to the
awful manner in which Sam Holt was
called to exptiate that crime and all
the attendant circumstances, not
omitting the ceaseless, unremitting
pursuit terminating in the sacred
w.
of it is so fearful to look back upon,
beginning with the crime and ending
with it's sequel, that the ordinary
mind is rendered incapable of think
ing or of expressing what is wisest or
best at this time. Mr.. Editor, wish
that your readers of the dominant
race might know how vast is the re-
gret and how unutterable is the sor-
row which fills the minds of the
thoughtful and sober minded people
of our race, that such a crime has
been committed; yet, are we, as a
race, responsible?
81 make this statement because of
the universal and unanimous express
sions of sorrow and regret which were
expressed in our service of worship
on Sunday night last. Instead of
preaching the gospel as is usual, the
worship hour was spent in preaching
the Gospel of love and peace, of
sobriety in speech, quietness in de-
pertinent and purity Of life. The
thought contained in your editorial
was anticipated by my discourse on
Sunday night. and in addition to the
service of Sunday night, l have issued
cali for great religious mass meet
ing to be held in my church on Sun
day next.
"And in closing this letter, which
sincerely hope you will publish, l
would make this appeal on behalf Of
the better element of our race, that
you will suspend judgment until,
in your own way, as a great journal,
it be made known that an honest
, expression from the men of our race is
} desirable and will be given the con-
sideration which their contents merit.
''To-day, as in the past, there is an
army of loyal negro men, whose
hearts are just as warm to the in
terests of this city and State as in
, olden days, but we beg you to note
the fact that, as with other races, so
it is with us, there is a great element
| in our midst which we can influence
, but to a certain degree, unless the
press shall lend us that degree of as
sistance in making known our views
| and molding healthy sentiment
, amid the masses.
JOSHUA A. BROCKETT,
, ssPastor Shiloh A. NJ. E. Church,
Thurmond and Haynes Sts.; In
e structor Theological Department
, Morris Brown College, City
The point to which the Constitution
: wishes particularly to allude is that
wherein Prof. Brockett says:
Il wish that your readers of the
dominant race might know how vast
e &c tho rorrot opd how, uput ttor ro hi :,
the sorrow which fills the minds of
the thoughtful and sober-minded peo-
s pie of our race, that such a crime
has been committed; yet, are we, as a
race, responsible?'
The vast ma jority of the colored
people is docile and tractable; disin-
a clined to lawlessness and happiest
in peace and quiet. This ma jority
e would no more commit heinous crimes
q than would it's corresponding white
i class. But right there the similarity
ends. The white majority not only
: draws the line against white law
S breakers, but enters actively into the
field of prosecution and sees that
). they are either imprisoned or run
; out. To this point Prof. Brockett
must admit that the negro majority
II has not raised itself, and that it gives
: shelter and connivance for the escape
Of colored criminal. Read over
e again the declaration of Governor
Gambler that colored men never cal
II upon him for the expedition of law
+ against incendiarism and ravishers
It and it is only when a ravisher or an
l. incendiary has been sacrificed to the
e fury which his crime has built VI
l. that they are heard from-in the in
terest of the criminal!
We have answered Prof Brocket
s. thus plainly, and perhaps, bluntly. il
g. order that a better understanding
le may be sooner reached. The profes
s sor, as type Of the better coloret
.: .: class, would not commit crime; has :
I hearty detestation of it, and sincerel,
regrets, as he SAYS, such shocking
occurrences as that which took place
in the Crawford homestead But tn
point we make, and the one to which
r, we ask the specific attention of thos
g. whom the professor represents. is
r, why did they not sound the alarm
'e and join in the chase from the Gran
s. ford homestead rather than from tn
10 charred pine stump near Newman
er Why did they not. instead of bein
e. mere passive observers, take on
OK step more, and join the band of la'
be prosecutors?
On To make the point palmer still
Mad and infuriated as were the me