Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1900-03-03

not unlike some OF the dissertat ions
delivered against the Negro.
DIR. JOHNSON is returning the compli-
ment with compound interest.
And again:
"Instesd OF an armed force that we
car meet on the field, there IS to day
an enemy that is invisible, but every
where at work, destroying our inssitu-
tions. That enemy is corruption. It
seeks TO direct Off ,isl action, it die
tates Legislation and endeavors to con-
troll the construction of the laws. It
seeks to control the press, to set fash
ions and shape public sentiment; it
has emssculsted American politics and
places it on sbe low plane Of jugglery.
The tendency is now for political par
ties to drop principle and follow expe-
diency, and their platforms are often
drawn to evsde or straddle every live
issue. The idea is new to cal ole rather
than convince. to ignore great wrongs
and wink &C abuses, Co court the sup.
port OF conflicting interests, though it
involves the deception of one or both
We are substituting ofice-seekirg and
Office holdicg in place of real achieve
ment, and instead OF great careers in
public life we are facing harvest OF
slippery, bleared-eyed and empty me-
diocrity, which giides into oblivion
without the assistance OF DEATH"
He is well versed in language to con-
vey an idea. He says:
Thirty -four years ago the call was
for men TO fight an open enemy in the
hsld. Today our country il calling for
men who will be true to republican in
situations &C home. Never before did
this republic call so loudly as it does
today for . strong, sturdy manhood
that will stand up defsntly and dare
10 do right. Fer more than decade
the tendency in this country has been
toward a colorless and negative dilet-
tanteism, having the counssnance OF
the Pharisee with the greed OF the
wolf, and drawing all of its inspirations
from the altar of concentrating and
corrupting wealth. The flag has been
praised st cha npanne dinners, while
the very pole from which il hoated was
being eaten Of by corruption, and re-
publican institutions we're being
stabbed to the vitals. A new gospel
has come among rs, according to which
it 10 mean to rob q henroost Of hen,
but plund ering thousands make Us gen.
tlemen."
He Is merciless in his dealing with
the United States Supreme 90 urt, de-
claring in favor of the establis hment
by the people of veto upon its now
absolute decision.
And again:
"Now. ali that have said goes to
show the white man in this country to
be an unit repository for the rights OF
the whole people, because he is too
prejudiced in mind, biased in judr-
to his own race and people, and SO il
totally unified to even concede the
rights and privileges of other race 8.
That he is envious and treacherous one
has only to call to memory, as proof,
the many schemes, plans, deals and
bargains made in presidential nomina-
tions down TO q spittoon- Gle amer in the
most petty Office within his gift. re-
peat, all is done by bargain. trade, bar
ter, deal, etc., in little. mean, con-
temptible,p petty. undetermined way that
is below the dignity and manhood of
all that is called manly and statesman
like. And here warn ami beseech
my people. who are just now in form
alive state and condition, do not copy
their example"
He attacks the jury system in vogue
in this country aud gets in another
lick ct our white brother when he re-
| marks:
"But do not lose sight OF the thought
which suggested that the system -of
trial by jury might have grown out of
the custom OF trial, conviction and
punishment of the lesser animals. The
following quotation will serve as evi.
dence to point out it's possibility:
| In the Middle Ages the lower ami
mails were frequently tried, convicted
and punished for various offsnses.
Mr.. Barring Gould has collected some
curious cases of this kind. In l2ss :
pig was burnt at Fontaney aux-Ro ses.
near Paris, for having eaten a child
In 1885 a judge OF Falaise condemned
. SOW TO be mutilated and hanged for
a similar offense. Three years later =
horse was similarly tried before the
magistrate and condemned to death
for having killed q man During the
fourteenth century oxen and COWS
might bs legally killed whenever tax.
en- in the act OF maraudiug, and asses,
for q first ofense, had one ear cropped
for q second ofiense, the other ear, and
IL after THE they were asses enough to
commit third offense their lives be-
came Forfeit to the crown.
Criminal animals frequently expi
ated their offenses like other malefsc-
tors on the gallows. but subsequently,
they were summary killed without
trial and their owners mulcted ir
heavy damages. In the fifteenth cen
tury it was popularity believed tina
cocks were intimately associated wisl
witches, and they were somewhat
credited with the power of laying ac,
cursed eggs from which sprang winged
serpenss. Ia 1474. st Bale, q cock va
publicly accused of having laid one O
these dreadful eggs. He was tried
sentenced to death, and, together with
the eggs, was burned by the execu.
toner in the market. place amid a prea,
concourse OF people. In 1894. during
the witch prosecutions in New Eng
land, q dog exhibited such strsng,
symptoms OF sff1iction that he was be-