Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1902-12-27

ment can be fiagrantly violated al
G. ough the instrument itself declares
that its provisions extend to all terri
tory, subject to the jurisdiction of the
United States. BY this decision the
free people of the United States can
hold colonies governed by irresponsible
American despots, and although the
Constitution of the United States ex-
pressly declares that slavery shall not
exist in these United States or any ter
ritory, subject to the jurisdiction there
OF, this wise body solemnly declares
that the slavery now existing in the
Island of Mindanao. Philippine Islands
Is not repugnant to the specific provi-
sions of the instrument itself.
Then why should colored men of in.
teligence look for remedy from the
Supreme Court of the United States?
ALI of the rights so far vouch -safed us
have been obtained from Congress, and
all of the rights given us by Congress
have either been curtailed or nulIifed
by this Supreme tribunal.
The result has been that Congress
has gotten tired passing laws in our
interest, but the Supreme Court has not
tired in constituting to cur injury
those already passed by that body. Ii
was no surprise to us then. when Hon.
MELVILLE w. FULLER, Chief Justice
of the United States, when sitting in
this city recently, not only took the
side OF the commonwealth, but inter-
rupted counsel and announced what the
decision of the Supreme Court of the
United States would be even before the
case had come before it on an appeal. I'll
this was not case of playing with
loaded dice" what was it!
Judge WADDnL solemnly announced
that he hoped to see the case decided
upon its merits. How can such hope
be realized, when it is a fact that
whenever the question is presented, it
is ruled out npon a technicality, and
the dusky compliments told to &C to
the lower branch of congress in order
to test the constitutionality of a state
constitution.
No, in our Judgment it is a "hocus
pocus" method to get rid of us. For
our part, we are ready to take our
chances, pardon the coYnparisonl ..with
the Devil himself" The state of Vir-
ginia is good enough for us right
through here now and we stand more
chance IN getting justice before the
State Supreme Court at Richmond than
we do before the National Supreme
Court at Washington.
The latter body has emphasized the fact
that it is anti Negro, while the former
body has not as yet been called upon to
declare its position upon these vital
questions. We believe that some way
will yet develop, that will enable the
colored men who stood by both sides.
during the last $50 years to obtain a re-
spectful hearing and a favorable deci-
sion before the tribunal of the nation.
We aided in saving the life of the ma
tion, and the wives and children of the
southern white men and we feel that il
Is about time that the two sections
should agree 10 stop making of MS a po-
htical football and taking from us our
rights.
We have confidence in Gov. A. J.
MONTAGUE aud an abiding faith in our
state Supreme Court. We expect from
the latter body nothing and we feel in
bilant when we receive from it even
small favo-s. Ali of the guns fred
from the Supreme Court at Washington
have been loaded with the lydite of
race prejudice,