The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1902-05-24
Dayis' Bad Break.

The Shreveport (La. Times" in
noting Governor Davis statement that
he proposed to pordon one certain negro
criminal If he would promise to take up
bis residence In Massachusetts, which
statement he later REINFORCED by saying
be would pardon others under the same
condition. makes the following thought
ful comments, which In certain phases
are not very pleasing to our state pride,
but nevertheless true
Gov. jeff Davis OF Arkansas has
broken ont In u fresh spot. His crown
ing ambition seems to be to leave TO
posterity legacy Of strenuity equaled
only by that Of the invincible Theodore.
From time to time he has given the
thinking and observant world some
striking exhibitions OF strenuousness,
but his latest official action fairly caps
all former achievements. The novelty
OF bis plan for giving the etfete East a
proper conception Of the negro problem
70 fairly dazzling, Theoretically, II
was an idea worthy Of Richelieu,
Practically, II was a transparent and
highly ridiculous bid for notoriety.
Tuesday 9 dispatches brought intelli'
gence Of Governor Davis scheme to
give the East an idea Of what the negro
problem really IL. He picked out one
Of the most incursble and offensive ne.
gro convicts In the state penitentiary
and gave him u full and free pardon,
with the provision that within thirty
days he must repair TO the state Of
Massachusetts, and take up hts resi-.
dence there with the intention Of be-.
coming full Aedged citizen OF the Bay
State. ...
The novelty OF this scheme Is Its sole
yedeeming feature. In the first place
the chances are a thousand to one
against the negro convict 9 keeping his
part Of the bargain. He will probably
return 10 his old haunts In Arkansas
and continue bis career OF crime until
the hand Of the law Is again laid upon
him. Admitting, hover, for the sake
OF argument, that the negro will pur'
chase Y ticket for Boston and repair
thither rs fast ~ steam can carry him,
ia II likely that the commonwealth Of
Massachusetts will welcome u notorious
criminal character, fairly saturated IN
crime, an eXemplar OF the very worst
type Of the Southern negros The carry.
Ing out Of Mr.. Davis plan would imply
that all the negroes IN the South are
bad, aud u representative OF this race
was TO be forwarded TO Boston for
psychological study. While II Is true
that the percentage OF crime among the
negroes IL larger than among the whites,
still the negroes OF the South are, ~ v
class, law.abiding and peacefully In
clined, The convict pardoned by Gov
Davis Ia no more u representive OF the
South than the Arkansas governor Is u
representative type OF Southern states
men, His Idea OF foisting another hab.
ltual criminal on the community IN or
der 10 promote Eastern contact with the
negro question Ia eminently farcical.
The hypothesis that his act will give
the Bostonians u proper idea Of the real
character Of the race question Is wholly
pntenable,
The negro problem will gradually
work Itself out II Mr., Davis and other
strenuous statesmen can DO induced 10
hold their horses for awhile, II Is
troubling nobody In particular just
now least Of all the people Of the South.
The negro Ia slowly recognizing his i'm
portance IA m Industrial factor and his
hnhtness for politics He is sticking TO
the hoe and plow and not bothering his
bead about social or political conditions,
The regulation of the criminal elements
among the negroes must be left 70 the
duly constituted authorities and In time
we will see n decided Improvement IN
the colored race,
Mr., Davis unquestionably made u bad
break, II WIS neither wise nor judi
cious 10 op0n the gates Of the peniten.
tiary 70 liberate n confirmed criminal
for any purpose Whatever, Nor does
the Idea Of making the East dumping
ground fairly represent Southern senti'
lnent. We would like to get rid Of our
criminals, OF course. bnt not Mt the OK
pense Ut other sections Of the county
The governor . hand was called, The
attorney for the negro, with the govern.
Dr's letter assuring him of n pardon II
transportation WAS furnished, repaired
to the governors Office carrying with
him tbs necessary transportation only
10 haye the request for u pardon per.
emptovily refused, JEFF did not expect
20 have his hand called--was simply
looking for some cheap notoriety and
when u came 10 u showdown took
water, -
Ils will now hive another opportunity
10 d. the prawiish act (auJ 10 tell the
truth every luw-abldlng citizen hopes
NJ will do w In regard " The conyicts