The Republican courier., 1900-01-27

many members of the fraternity in
Louisiana will, no doubt, be pleased
to hear of Bro. Asbury's candidacy
for magistrate of one of the courts
in Philadelphia. Bro. Asbury is
the editor of the Odd Fellows
Journal, and should he be elected
to the Office which he seeks, it
would give recognition to 10000
negroes in America:
GAN EVEN CHANCE"
"Mr. j. @. Asbury has been
nominated as magistrate for the
Seventh Ward by the Prohibition
lists, and we trust that the NUM-
cipal League may determine to
give him a place on their ticket
also. Mr.. Asbury is d cOlored man.
He is known to us on the best au-
thority as a man of excellent char
er and attainmentS in his pro
fpssiOn, which is that of the law
Mr.. Asbury has already had a
valuable experience in public of
fee. He has served as District
Attorney in Norfolk, Virginia, to
which position he was nominated
and elected on the Republican
ticket, aided by Democratic votes.
There are several reasons why we
believe that Mr.. Asbury's nOmina-
ton by the Municipal League and
his election by the voters of the
Seventh Ward are desirable. We
have reason to fear that in Phila-
drlphia there exists a form OF
prejudice against the negro race
which is dpcorOus in form but very
injurious in its results-a prejudice
more extreme and unreasonable,
though covert, than that found Ill
other Northern cities. We do not
lynch negroes here. We have
never known of case where ne
gro criminal, or supposed criminal,
was either shot, hanged, burned,
or otherwise maltreated. But we
put various effective obstacles in
the way of his gaining livelihood
excepting in some of the humber
and less remunerative walks OF
life.
The evil deeds of negro criIni-
nails we are apt to lay mentally on
the shoulders of the negro race IN
a way that we do not follow in
thinking of white criminals. This
is grave injustice to an undoubt-
edly respectable minority of the
colOred citizens of Philadelphia
and it is one which they feel very
keenIy. We would feel it also were
We i'll their place. We are credibly
informed of one instance where an
educated and well-equipped young
professional man, who came OF ex
cellent parentage, was refused EN-
plOyment for which he was vel
fitted solely because of his color
and of another case where a re
spectable cOlOred man was refused
office room which he proposed tC
rent upon objection of other ten
ants for the same reason. These
are evidences of a race prejudice
unreasonable, cruel, and hurtful tt
the morals of the community. The
colOred race is taught the lessor
that industry, and character Will
il, cannot compete on even terms
with the same good qualities in th'
white race. The cOlOred man, IN
stead of finding help in overcom
ing The faults of his race.-fault'
partly the heritage of slavery anC
oartly the outcome of an imperfec
or primitive development of morals
and minl,--has a heavier burdeI
placed on him at the moment WheI
he is least fitted to bear 1T thai
rests on his white competitor.
The incentive to despair, to a lov
or At least most meager life, Is
therefore. almost irresistible. Ne
gro criminality in Philadelphia i
reinforced by this condition; als'
corrupt politics, in its appeal t.
the negro illicit service, is great.
strengthened. The machine at leas
throws the negro bone-thoug|
it be picked one; but the Chris
tian citizen at the political ta6l
denies him a crumb Of bread.
Were the Municipal Leage to of
fer a place on its ticket to an hor
est and competent cOlored mar
such as we believe Mr.. Asbury t
be. it would extend ray of hop
to our cOlOred population, showln
its members that merit In theI
would receive recognition.
would tend to free the negro vote
from a corrupt subServiency TO Tn
machine. Race prejudice is tn
hardest of all things 10 overcom'
| hnt this gives all the more reasO