The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-08-15
MASSACHUSETTS AN ASYLUM FOR
SOUTHERN NEGRO CONyICTs.

Some time ago when Governor Davis,
OF Arkansas, agreed to pardon a negro
convict, who had applied for executive
cIemency, on condition that he would go
Immediately to Massachusetts, and
make his future nome in that state. he
was denounced by the press in some
Sc ions Of the country and ridiculed
b. hat OF others. He received COM
mcndation from a few newspapers.
Governor Davis object in attaching
this condition to the Negroes pardon
was to give the New Englanders an
opportunity of exercising that philan-
thIopic disposition toward the baser
class Of negroes that they were con
tinually claiming existed in their Sec
ton IN contrast to his treatment at the
south.
Judging from the recent action of
Governor Crane, OF that state, he is in
clined to fall in line with the idea OF
Gov. Davis and make his state a home
for the negro criminals of the south.
1t is sincerely hoped he will continue
to act upon this and let it be generally
known that all negroes who COM
init crimes in the south will be
given safe asylum in his state. If this
news could be spread broadcast among
this class of our negroes, and the state
authorities here would exercise a little
discretion in the matter of making ar
rests Governor Crane would be en-
abled to carry out his cherished ideas
20 r-+4,r f"-I z4z nvls- H.
would save the southern states ire
mendous expense in the way of trials
and supporting n prison these negro
%convicts and would rid them of many
an Objectionable citizen. Instead of
having the criminals turned lose upon
the people as soon as his term of i'm
prisonrlent expired, to prey upon their
goods md chattel5 or put their lives in
jeopardy, he would be gotten rid OF for
al time to come.
In one case at least, Governor Crane
has acted upon the suggestion of the
Arkansas governor and thrown the
protection Of his state about a negro
criminal. from the south. A negro
named Monroe Rogers, being charged
with burning a dwelling house in Dur
ham county, in TINS state, fled to Mas
g~achusetts. where he was arrested. Re-
QUESTION for his return made by Gov
ernOr Aycock has, so far, been refused,
and the officer sent to bring the pris-
oner back has returned without him.
I;oC--s does not deny his identity and
adm..s that he committed the arson.
The OIly opposition to his return is the
pretended belief that he will not be
permitted a trial. but will be lynched
as o as he reaches Durham; and
this the governor of Massachusetts
pretends to believe and says he will
not order the mans return until he is
convinced there is no danger of this.
This is so preposterOus, SO absurd a
reason to give for refusing eXtradition
of the criminal who confesseS to hav-
ing committed a capital crime that one
is greatly inclined to doubt the sin
cereity of the governor or to charge
him with gross ignorance. 1t may De
pure spite and determination to in
every way possible thwart the Of
ficials of southern states in their en-
deavors to punish negroes who COM
mits grave crimes and to protect the
later in their depredations upon the
property of the white people.
If Governor Crane has made up his
mind to refuse extradition for negro
criminals from this state we say let as
many of our criminals of that race as
possible escape 10 his state. Let it he
known hat if they go there nc attempt
will be made to bring them back.
Whatever may be Governor Cranes
motives, his action is a gross libel or
the people of this state, whose courts
are as clean and where justice is as
evenly melted out as in those of his
own state, and our people are as up
right Inc law abiding.