The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-11-23
Z. q SMITH. PAR1a

Tne crime OF rape outranks, among en-
nghtened people, all other offenses against
the person. II Ia also an offense against
the social system OF the gravest character.
1t ia not by any means an offcnse con.
fined to negroes, as the number OF cases
now pending against white rapists In the
courts OF this State show, one white man
Delng charged with violating the chastity
81 MS own daughter, being recently con-
The intelligent, Thoughtful and upright
negro Is as deeply concerned In the sup.
preston of this diabollcal evil as the
thoughuul and lawloving white Is In the
suppression Of lynch law, which is none
other than a rape on Justice and order.
Of all the rapists who have been appre-
hended and satisfactorily proven guilty,
they have without exception been found
tyne They are ignorant, british and shift
less-a menace to the human family. The
educated negro, whether in trade schools
Ike Booker Washington's, or In institutions
devoted to the higher education Of the ne
gro like Atlanta university, never commit
rape. The negro that commits rape is a
drink-loving sot, usually made so at some
den run by white men where poison that
would XIII the ordinary man, only serves
TO inhame the basest passions OF the rape
flend.
Now the best colored people OF both
sexes abhor the crime of rape and are glad
ne depended upon If they are on jury to
bring In verdict Of guilty n the accused
IS guilty. II the white people OF Texas
think that the good colored people have any
sympathy or even maudlin sentiment OF
pity for negroes who trample down the
very bulwark of society In violating the
person OF female they are utterly mis-
taken. ! speak for them.
But how are we 10 tell a rapist white
or black2 And how are we to npprehend
them before they commit an overt act?
We do not associate with the refuse of
our race except for missionary work any
more than the best whites. We elect,
when we can get q chance, white men TO
keep the peace and TO protect society; the
whites have the entire machinery of the
law IN their hands. The police system Of
the entire South 10 made up OF white men.
What they with their intelligence. admir-
pble facilities and experience fail In doing
can hefdly be done by the negro without
official authority OF any kind. The work
of uplifting the morals OF the race Is going
on bravely, but these people, from whose
spawn rapists are bred, will not come TO
church, Sunday school, day school, lodge
room or even work for good colored peo-
pie They are hard to get at. Perhaps the
white people have made a grieveous error
In not using the negro as a factor In the
policing Of our districts, and not themselv s
giving the worthy negro more open recogni'
tion.
1t is a bad policy when white man
feels that "All coons look alike to me.
We favor compulsory education; we think
that In every community where negroes
dwell in considerable numbers there should
be appointed deputy sherifs city mar
shals or policemen, but that these should
be men Of the highest standing who are
recognized as exemplary citizens by white
and black alike. Such a man is William
Tears Of Austin Negro dives, whether
run by black men or white should be IN
der the strlctest legal surveillance; eve
negro must stand ready to lend hand 10
the prompt apprehension OF criminals, but
always IN compliance with the law.
The regeneration OF the homes Of the
rnce must come from within the race. This
Is the work of special organized effort such
as the Farmers improvement society and
the home mission societies of the negro
churches. The white people can see that
crimes of this sort shall have the right
OF way from the justice court to the gal.
lows by such laws as are needed, and all
executions should be public and widely
advertised.