Evening journal., 1901-09-12
nuRnAm FoR JlM PARKER

Here is the kind Of editorial that
makes the eye flash and the pulse beat
faster. In these days Of recrimination
and negro batting, it is refreshing. 1t
should be read by everyone The
Washington Post is its originator:
We quite agree that the big and
stalwart Parker, who knocked down.
mauled. and disarmed the would-be as
sassin in Buffalo last Friday, deserves
the handsomest possible recognition at
the hands of the Government and the
people. From our knowledge and OBJ
segvati0n of pistol practice we are dis
posed to say and-what is mOrc-to
believe that Parker prevented q third
shot at the President Everybody else
seems to have been paralyzcd with
horror-or something: the Presidents
"bodyguard' was not in evidence at
the critical moment and Jim Parker
fine, old brawny Jiml-was the one
obstacle to the mufderer's success. OF
course. the Others got in later and
helped to pound the wretch; but it was
parker-Jim Parker, a great big Geor-
gia ncgro-who did the business and,
in all human probability saved Mr.
Mvkinlcy's precious life.
Southern men. especially if not ex-
clusiyely of the old slave-holding
class, will take Jim Parker's heroic
act as a matter Of course. They win
noe De ungratelul or unappreciative.
nesro's faithful heart and they have
not waited untE this eleventh hour to
recognize his immeasuahlo capacity
for devotion and sclf-sacriice. Some
day the real history of the master and
the slave will he written. and then the
world viii see chronicle of mutual
affection, OF simple loyalty, of patient
martyrdom. such as has been founded
upon no other association in the an
nails of mankind Parker did the natu-
ra. thing now that we know he is of
Southern birth and training. he would
have done the same thing for the
humblest creature white or black, as
sailed by dire peril and in sore need of
help. And, what is more TO the pur-
pose he would have done 10 without
one thought OF recOmpense or nOto-
rioiy This is not a race question.
There is no reason why the razor
carrying "alley niggers" of Washing
ton should take glory to themselves
for what Jim Parker did As we'll ex-
pect the whole white population to
gruvel in abasement because Czolgosz
belongs TO the Caucasian race. There
ARE thousands of Southern-born ne
groes who would have done what Par
ker did. We are not prepared to say
however. that Parkers heroism is the
property OF the colored people as =
North, South. East and West
We rather think that. this time. Il is
chiefly Parkers property.
But by all means, let us do some
thing TO reward Jim Parker. We are
IAN proud of him and grateful to him.
Up in Buffa,o they are trying to make
la fool OF Parker-buying his buttons
and his shoes and pieces of his clothes
and generally going on like a set of
maudlin lunatics. They won't succeed
however. He'll keep his head. He Is
the right sort. He comes from the
section that produces level-headed ne.
groes. SO we shall celebrate him
first in plaudits and then IN some sub.
stantial fashion that viii last his time
The country ought TO provide for him
SO that his head will always have ,
shelter and his big brave heart bt
saved forever from the pang of povert,
| and want.