The Hawaiian gazette., 1900-07-27
DRAWS THE
COLOR LINE
How Democracy Treats
the Blacks.
THEIR RIGHTS ABRIDGED
Disfranchisement Has Led to the
Desire for More
Repression.
Especial Correspondence

Democracy towards the blacks and al
persons of color--a matter which ought
80 be of special interest to the enfran-
rhised Hawaiians-I offer the following
narrative:
When the negro was ousted from
politics in Louisiana by the Con-
stitutioral Convention of 1898, which so
framed the suffrage clause as to render
IL almost impossible for the negro 10
vote. II was thought that the race
question was settled in the state, for il
has been frequently asserted that with
the negro eliminated from politics
there will be no further trouble with
him. TIE previous Legislature was
not satisfied, however, with shutting
the negro out of politics, but built VI
the wall which separates the two races
higher than ever before. A law pro-
hlbited intermarriage 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. "Jim Crow car
law followed which required the rail-
road companies to separate the races
on all cars.
There seemed little for the Legisla-
ture to do further on the subject, for
The negroes are already shut out of all
hotels, restaurants and barrooms 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, II
has gone to work on q half dozen bills
all aimed still further to separate the
races and keep them well apart.
bin was introduced, for instance,
reviving the old "star" car system UNI
der which negroes were not allowed to
enter the same street cars as the whites.
Every fourth or fifth car, marked with
star, was open to the colored people.
The bill was laid over, but there Is
every chance that 1t will pass IL the
present sentiment as to the races pre-
walls.
Another measure which while 1t bore
no reference to the race question was
really aimed at the negroes, and in
tended to disarm them and render II
Impossible for them to obtain arms
or ammunition is the Bennett bill. This
measure, which was proposed several
years ago, placed a prohibitive license
on dealers in pistols and ammunition
1t was proposed several years ago but
defeated by the influence of the dealers
In arms in New Orleans. who realized
that it would kin very profitable
business they do in the country dis
tricts But their influence was as
nauFht this time when the Marler
murder, committed in the very vicinity
of the State capital where the Legis-
lature was sitting, and the rumored
rising and threats of the negroes at
Devall aroused strong anti-negro
prejudice In the Legislature, that would
have carried through any bill aimed at
the blacks. Noah Pritchard, a negro,
murdered without reason or pretext
Ralph Marler a white man at Devall
in West Baton Rouge parish and then
escaped over to East Baton Rouge
near the capital where he was reported
cornered in the DEVILS Swamp. Being
well supplied with ammunition he kept
the posse at bay for a day wounding
one OF the deputy sheriffs, and slipped
out of the swamps and escaped. He
left further trouble behind at Devall's.
where the negroes were reported to be
conspiring against the whites. A num-
Der OF white regulators rode in from
the neighborlng parishes. The leader
of the, negroes, one Ned Cobb, was kill
ed and three negroes whipped" by the
regulators and ordered out of the par
ishes. These occurrences, almost in |
sight OF the capital. naturally expedit- |
ed the Bennett bill. 1t viii prevent the
country stores from selling arms and |
ammunition to the negroes; whereas
the whites, it Is argued. can If they |
desire arms, supply themselves from a
city dealer. Thus while the law is
wholly free from any discrimination on
account OF race, color or previous
condition" II win have the practical
effect of preventing the negroes from
securing pistol or cartridge. The ut
terances OF some of the negro leaders
at recent conference or meeting in
Brooklyn helped the passage of the bill
What is its purpose is well known in
the discussion of another measure re-
lating to concealed weapons. The law
against the carrying of concealed
weapons has proved a complete failure
because II provides only for a fine,
which can be made very small by the
Judge. 1t was proposed to make the
penalty imprisonment as well as fine,
for many men who carry concealed
weapons, and are willing to pay the
fine In case they are caught, would
hesitate II 1t meant a weeks lmprlson-
nent
There have been so many shooting
ARRAYS and killings of late growing out
OF the carrying OF concealed weapons
fhat 1t was generally thought that pub
aic opinion would favor a more severe
law on the subject. When the matter
came up before the Legislature, how
ever. II was defeated. to the surprise
OF every one-and wholly on the negro
question. The legislators from New
Orleans and the white parishes voted
for IL. but those from the negro par
tshes were almost unanimous against