Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1900-08-20
NEW YORK's "NIGGER" HUNT.

From the Springfield Mass. Republican,
The news OF the race riot in New
York would be received by an ill-wishel
of America with sardonic smile. Here
is the best of opportunities for cynical
remarks about the North's love OF the
negro aud the hypocrisy of the casii-
cations which the northern press is
wont to visit upon the South at times
OF race couflict. Here, too, is another
Illuminating commentary upon west
ern civilization 10 which we point with
pride, in our most horror-stricken
moods over the anti-foreign riots in
China. Kill the niSger" "There's
another coon. Kill him!"-such were
tbs noble cries of the New York mob
on Wednesday.
But few weeks ago deep indign a.
ton was felt over the atrocities COM
mitted by white mobs upon the black s
and their property in New Orleans.
The outbreaks in the two cities were so
similar that comparison becomes una
vailable. The resem blances are re-
markable. In both cases the trouble
originated in the killing of pollce off,
Ger by negro while an arrest was be-
ing MADE. Iu both cases the black
murderers escaped. The points of re-
semblance may be carried even closer
in he matter of time. In both cas- es
he officers OF the law died on Mon
dsv, and iu both cases rioting did not
begin until the following Wednesday
oight. Ia neither case was there a
spontaneous, sudden outbreak immedi
ately af er the killing of the off,
Ger; there was an interval Of two days,
in which passions presumably might
nave cooled, before the appearance OF
the white mob. When rioting did be-
gin it assumed the same form both 10
New Orleans and New York. An in
discriminate attack was made upon
any man in sight who had dark skin,
and the failure OF the police to take 5
deep interest in the situation was only
too apparent. II a negro was seen on
street car or on bicycle. a rush wa
made for him 10 order to beat him to
insensibility. If black head were
seen peeriDg out of window volley
OF missiles was Immediately shot at it.
Regardless OF justice or law aud order
the white mob in either case abandon
ed itself to barbarous "nigeer" huut
Aud it must bs added that the one moi
was as crue! ss the other.
As for justification there was none in
either case, but, when that has been
said, it is ouly fair 10 brand New York
ss more wa0to1 10 its savagery tnan
New Orleans. The negro murderer in
the southern city killed three police
men instead OF one. The black rae
down there is about half the
entire population, and race antagonism
has been developed through social and
political agencies since the days when
the blacks in New Orleans were slaves.
la New York the colored population IL
infinit ssimal in the whole; as social
and politic'l factor it has always been
too insignificant to re seriously consid-
cred 10 the city's life. Yet the New
York mob was at work within month
after the 10 DO at New Orleans and was
fully equal to it in indiscriminste, fero'
ci ous assault upon innocent, peaceable
citizens whose only offense was the
color of their skins.
1t is idle to condone the New York out
break on the ground that the rioters wer,
, for the most pat hoonlums. The rioters II
New Orleans were for the most part hood
lums. The truth is that hoodlums genorslly
uosse,s all the passions and share all the pre-
| iudices which fill the heart of a community
In race questions especially they feel the
same antagoni'ms that the 'better element
feel. the chief diff renee being that hood um'
have less self-control. When riots like TINS
occur a whole city is guilty.