Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1902-01-25
GOOD NEGROES IN VIRGINIA.


issue of the 22d instant says:
''The claim that Virginia has better
type of Negro population than other
Southern states is not sustained by re-
cent occurrences. Following close on
the horrible crime perpetrated by Ne
gro on a young married woman i'm n
populous pa If Lynchburg, and in the
open day, comes the report of another
outrage near Norfolk on an aged wo-
man by young NegTo. The protection
which the vigilance of the authorities
IN Virginia affords these fiends against
swift, summary aud sufficient punish-
ment seems to have no deterrent effect
on them. If indeed, 1t is not an encour-
agement to the indulgence of their
british passions
And we pause to remark that the hor-
rlb'e, inhuman, uncivilized punish
ments visited upon the Negroes in the
states of Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mis-
sissippi, Louisiana, Tennessee and Ar
kansas seem to have no deterrent effect
on them, if indeed it is not an encour-
agement to the indulgence of their brut-
ish passions.
The INDEX APPEAL concludes as fol-
lows:
at is to the credit of the race. how
ever. that the Norfolk rapist was can
tured by Negro. This is very much
20 the credit of the race, for nothing
Will contribute more to the suppression
OF the crime than the active coopera-
ton OF the respectable colored people
against 1T. Let them not forget that
there is always probability that lynch
law will be invoked as punishment. for
rape"
This is gratuitous advice to the color
ed people who have always discounte-
nanced crime and condemned rape.
If the two cases cited are to be used
as a criterion of the races proclivities,
then the same reasoning should be APP
piled to the more favored white people
of the commonwealth
A white man near Old Point, Va,
criminally assaulted his own daughter.
He was neither lynched, raped nor pun
ished by the law; but, if we mistake
not, was released ON a technicality.
A white man at Old Point, Va, Grim
inally assaulted an Italian white girl
he was arrested and held by the United
States authorities. His life was not of
fered as a forfeit.
A white man in this city, the agent
of a reputable insurance company. Grim
lnelly assaulted a colored child in Full
ton. The matter was flushed up'' and
the magistrate released the prisoner.
WILLIAM O'BoYLE Cwhite) murdered
ALMA HAMILTON, (colored). He stamp
ed her to death, killing her unborn
child. 1t was n murder so brutal that a
white jury sentenced him to death. He
secured new trial and another white
jury sentenced him to death. He made
an appeal to Gov. TYLER, who declined
to interfere, and he is now making an
appeal to Gov. A. ]. MONTAGUE for a
communication of the death-sentence.
DO these crimes indicate the depravi-
ty OF the white race, or do they indicate
the depravity of portion of mankind?
is 1t any more unusual for a colored
man to commit crime than it is for a
white man to commit q similar offense ?
We beg leave to remark that no crime
charged against the Negro has ever ex-
ceeded IN atrocity some other one perpe-
trated by white man.
The INDEX-APPRAL is one of the fair
est Democratic journals in the state and
accordingly will concede that crime
knows no color and is confined to NO
race. 1t is practically universal.
The law-abiding white and colored
people should condemn crime and wage
war upon the depraved and criminal
classes regardless of their race, or re.
hgion, or previous condition.
Lynching is anarchy and to tolerate
it IN any case is to invite its operations
IN all others.
We do not know of heinous crime as
yet committed by Negro, but what
some other Negro was the first to appre.
bend and betray the alleged guilty par.
ty. Lynch-law must gol