The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1903-03-26
SUSSEX PTIoM RATES.
DOES GOOD GOVERNMENT" PBK-
VENT OR PROMOTE CRIME

IL the record Of newspapers is to be
believed the year 1902 is the blacklist
page In the civil history OF the State
with two exceptions, the first being
that brief period OF the year 1898.
known as the Wilmington massacre
period, the other being the first quar-
ter OF the present year.
We read that Superior court for
trial OF criminal cases is now in ses-
sion at Wilmington with the heaviest
docket in the history Of the county;
not less than 100 cases being set for
trial.
Two hundred and eighty-fve homi-
cides In the year 1902 Is North Caro-
lina's quota. "A fearful increase over
past years" as the State papers put
1t, while the Washington Post OBJ
serves that perhaps the accumula-
ton OF murder cases may cause North
Carolina people to insist upon ade-
quate punishment for those gentlemen
who go about pumping cold lead into
their neighbors." Hear also the Will
mington Messenger In the following
significant wall: ITO what length is
this wanton taking of human life to
extend? Two more homicides were re-
ported in yesterdays Messenger. Con-
ditions In this State are becoming be-
yond endurance. What is the matter
with our people? Has human life no
value In the eyes of mankind? Our
entire populace seems to have gone
mad on the subject of homicide. The
conditions are appalling. Society has
become honey-combed with the pistol
in his hip pocket"
Again hear the Morning Post in the
following unique, but melancholy sup
plication: May the good Lord stay
the passions of our people! Five or
six homicides within almost as many
weeks" A gentleman of prominence
stated to the writer that within a
radius of 30 miles with Kinston as
the center ten murders have been
committed within three years and not
one of the slayers has been punished,
and these were notably white mems
affairs. No negro in it. With the ad-
vent of the good government promised
by Simmons and Aycock the white
man has monopolized the business of
killing in that neck of the woods.
A leading State daily says: "The
spirit of Cain seems to be possessing
men In North Carolina today. Ken
lucky has the name of the dark and
bloody ground and we instinctively
think Of her as that State where men
go armed, but North Carolina has out
Kentuckeyed Kentucky"
Under the caption, Increase of
Crime" the Warrenton Record pro.
ceeds to take issue with Judge Brown
who in his recent charge to the grand
jury at Nashville, attributed the in.
crease In crime to foreign immigra
ton. The Record very sensibly argues
that in such States as New York and
Texas Browns statement might hold
good, but not so in North Carolina
where foreigners are few and seldom
In evidence, and yet the editor adds
that there were over one fourth as
many homicides in North Carolina as
in Texas and half as many as in the
great State of New York.
Anent the deplorable conditions
now existing, the Democratic bible
The News and Observer, gives vent
editorially to the Jeremiad which fol
lows: However it may be in North
ern States which have received a large
influx of immigrants from abroad, the
increase in crime in North Carolina
cannot be charged up to foreign immi
grafton. 1t has been committed by
folks who were born here and are the
children of North Carolinians for gen
erations. 1t Is pity that we cannot
saddle it off upon some other people,
So upon what would seem to be
the very highest Democratic authority
the record is simply awful, and grow
ing worse at a rapid rate of increase
under munificent Democratic rule, ant
what Is worse there is no scape goat
upon whom to saddle the responsible
ty. The saddling business will mo-
work. Not foreigners-not Yankees
No, not even the poor negroes cal
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