The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-07-26
DRAWS THE
COLOR LINE
How Democracy Treats
the Blacks.
THEIR RIGHTS ABRIDGED
Disfranchisement Has Led to the
Desire for More
Repression.
Especial Correspondence.l


NEW ORLEANS, July 5.-As show
ing the present temper of the Southern
/ Democracy towards the blacks and all
persons OF color-a matter which ought
to be of special interest to the enfran-
chised Hawaiians-I offer the following
narrative:
. When the negro was ousted from
politics in Louisiana by the Con-
stitutioral Convention of 1893, which so
framed the suffrage clause as to render
1t almost Impossible for the negro to
vote. II was thought that the race
| question was settled In the State, for II
sas been frequently asserted that with
| the negro eliminated from politics
there viii be no further trouble with
him. The previous Legislature was
not satisfied, however. with shutting
the nero out of politics. but built up
the wall which separates the two races
| higher than ever before. A law pro-
hibited inthrmarriage between whites
| and blacks, even to the remotest de-
| grees. but leaving the red or yellow
races to ally themselves with either the
whites or negroes. A Jim Crow" car
law followed which required the rail-
roas companies TO separate the races
on all cars
There seerred little for the Legisla-.
lture to do further on the. subject. for
fthe neprces-are, already shut put of ALI
hotels. restaurarts ard ba-roorIis by
public usage, and in the theaters and
other public places have a particular
place set aside for them. But although
there seemed little for the Legislature
to do in regard to the race question. 1t
has gone to work on a half dozen bills
all aimed stin further to separate the
races and keep them well apart.
bill was introduced. for instance.
reviving the old star" car system un-
der which negroes were not allowed to
enter the same street cars as the whites.
Every fourth or fifth car, marked with
a star. was open to the colored people.
The bill was laid over, but there is
every chance that it will pass II the
present sentiment as to the races pre-
walls.
Another measure which while IL bore
no reference to the race question was
! really aimed at the negroes, and In.
= tended to jisarm them and render II
impossible for them to obtain arms
J or ammunition. Is the Bennett bill. Thi.
years ago, placed a prohibitive licens,
2 on dealers in pistols and ammunition
5 II was proposed several years ago bu
4 defeated by the influence of the dealers
n i'm arms in New Orleans. who realize,
4 that IL would kill a very profitable
J, business they do in the country dis
e tricts. But their influence was a
& naught this time when the Marie
T.. e.. of,,tt
8 of the State capital where the Legis
: lature was sitting, and the rumore
n rising and threats of the negroes a
r Devall, aroused strong anti-negr
= prejudice in the Legislature. that woul
n have carried through any bill aimed a
y the blacks. Noah Pritchard. a negro
e murdered without reason or pretex
a Ralph Marler. a white man at Deva
i I'm West Baton Rouge parish. and the
It escaped over to East Baton Roug,
l. near the capital where he was reporte
l. cornered in the DEVILS Swamp. Bein
l. well supplied with ammunition he ker
, the posse az bay for day woundin
one OF the deputy sheriffs, and slippe
out OF the svamps and escaped. II
Feft further trouble behind at Devalrj
where the negroes were reported to h
dBdlIlSt ITc Whites. "A nun
ie ber OF white regulators rode in fror
the neighboring parishes. The leadt
. of the negroes. one Ned Cobb was xii
4. ed and three negroes whipped by II
. regulators and ordered out of the pal
ishes. These occurrences, almost
"A sight OF the capital, naturally expedi
ed the Bennett bill. 1t will prevent tf
-, country stores from selling arms an
ammunition to the negroes: wheres
20 the whites. 1t is argued. can if the
a desire arms, supply themselves from
- city dealer. Thus while the law
- wholly free from any discrimination c
"a account OF race, color or previol
condition" Ii will have the practic,
effect Of preventing the negroes fro
=, securing pistol or cartridge. The u
a. terances OF some of the negro leader
:, at recent conference or meeting
Brooklyn helped the passage of the bi
- What Is its purpose is well known
the discussion of another measure r.
=. lating to concealed weapons. The la
-. against the carrying of concealt
weapons has proved a complete failu
because II provides only for fin
which can be made very small by Il
d. Judge. II was proposed to make Il
in penalty imprisonment as well as fin
oy for many men who carry conceal'
2 weapons, and are willing to pay Il
he fine in case they are caught. wou
a hesitate IL 1t meant a weeks imprisol
,ment.