The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-10-25

them and mako them growing menace
to the white civilization beside them
Tho state must approach this prob EN-
through the medium Of family life. Stree
the family is the unit OF society, l.
should not be thought strange or uh-
natural thing that such medium shoula
be tried. The difficulty that presents IL
self at the outset is not that OF obtalhlhst
data sufficient to warrant Judgment as
to existing conditions, but rather of CIV
ing publicity to that data In such II
fashion as to carry conviction, without
alternating the mind of the reader by the
discussion of things that offend the tasts
and shock the sensililities of every re.
fined man. The first fact that conlronts
us In the study of this phase OF tho
problem is that chastity. the highest or
domestic virtues, is to the great mass
of the negro race, a quality mel her pos
sessed nor priced It's possession is not
considered a requisite for acceptapc
service In the person of tencher OF re-
llgion ana its loss is vcnial offense, II
1t be an offense ut all, in the unmarried
woman. We hold 1t to be exiomatic that
no man IS n 1T and capable citizen, WHO
does not prize as his highest posscssi NJ
to be defended with life itself, the non
or Of his home. In the white civilization
the Isolated cases where such possession
Is lightly regarded or allowed to be un-
stroyed, the man is branded as an out
cast and enemy to society, In the negro
race 1t Is not too much to say that nelth-
or the conscience of the Individual mr.
of the public, recognizes an ofendHr IN
the person of a man or woman to whom
the value Of the one priceless thing OF
life Is as Il thing Of naught Renrc IN
over-crowded homes where both sees
Of all ages. and of varying degrees OF
knshlp. sleep In the same room the ne
gro knows not the meaning OF moaesty.
His home life Is a training school Tor
the cultivation of the animal passions. a
graduate of such a home goes INFO lfe
either with body and soul tainted with
an unnatural crime or with a mind few
cred to frenzy. NIodesty ACCOMPANIES
chastity as shadow does substance. ara
the absence of modesty not ony argues,
but proves the absence of virtue
There ha1 rs yet been no real hHg g, ::
we not hope e make that be- i'm, ing in
the home. There must be a sonar ION
of, the sexes in the home and since ne IN.
puhlc conscience of bis rage h.s taken
any sters in this rectlon the Sta. 7,ust
make and e~fo'ce. TIL 'em1' Not
mand be renedlal in It's operation by es-
tabl;shlng tie ross BIZ ty OF domestic vr-
tue and aft ldjr.g onro tuntS fer II, tn +
sexes. but It's psychological effect would
tic immed ate and striking: In al re s
sussions Of the neSro his rs nnt duae 70
honaf IS srn BSt a tfe mefa pw to
learn I'D reproduce teaching. frrn'7hes
no assurance OF Intellectual development.
of its tutela.ge has never asked /, 2 !, cues
and always. w.tll,a ew to the e joym,e,r,t
of these privileges; never as to the. ,obli-
cations. which should accomra, the n.
The negro race has never asked a oueF-
ton as to Its duties. It has n7ver put
or set OF actions. To he cCm. rand Of
the older civilization you OUGHT, tie re,
gro has nevcr. SO much as Isked t'Why?"s
nh tTe History nsEs has g nh so
issue us thrt " Oh 1l'd r a se3 "
legislation di ected towards the redee rptio
Of tie esro im.1% ooI eYry t opnle f to
negroes would ask them elves and one
another Why SHOULD the e., sexes S BE- be seq t5o
rrased od T sfe frs to gaeyt on re
help the negro; the opportu ity t. teaca,
not set of rules nor lesson TOR q GA
nation. but a far reaching p pr nc PIE 80 20
ttViin the wifeaof his choice; so long as
he sets little or no value on the chaasbtX
Of his aa1Ehte 81 long oe the s 1rn NAY tha
the child is reared to set no lue on
these things, lust 50 long WI the reae up
ton of y the race be hopeless. d w ucH a
man sets no valuelon v!Ltbe,s and regards g, ras
not the characteriof ha5 re and $ }ha,i1j
n heM Sa1 Value Ii Is fs stalwart virtues Of
truth ard honesty? THEM ment the ne;
gro can he taught tot5val t. c~Eo2d
name of his wife and off prng,5 then wi
be the awaken ngf Of a public conscience
among them. WHICH W II cleanse the pll-
pit aid give, to the law pun.sh'ns or m
the leg Station suggested the State wotld
meet the real needs of the rccro, and
make a beginning towards tbs solu ION OF
the oblem. The, Lift CITY Of e.fo cling
a statute ssch as p; opo ed Is rec 1gn zed.
That it would work hardship, In some
cases is granted. That 1t will lie Lon-
tended that 1t Is an unwarant q abridse-
mcnt of personal liberty gees wi out S y
ing. But we arc face TO face, with the
greatest as well as the most unique DEop-
lem ever presented to a ratQn. that
rav ng a FREQ people SPITE OF them
selves. To the man Tho studies tn PROB
lem at first hand. the most tiscoul@g rs
feature is the hopeless view taken OF the
situation by those who know the nero
best. In view of the gravity of the e%.
isting conditions, every sugs sti9n mat
careful consideration. and as the pro. lem
is a new one and all attemrt' to solve
it have failed it is no far objetti t,
the proposed legislation that 1t Is novel
and experimental.
The statu proposed Is as follows:
An act TO yfol..D.t persons tsuvc the
age OF twelve years of opposite SEXES
and not married to each other, from
occupying tic same apartment for sleep
ing purposes, or for changing their az,
parel SO as to expose the person, and
providing penalties therefor
!. BE 1t enacted by the General AS
sembly of Virginia, That II any persons
OF opposite sexes. who are above the age
OF twelve years and not married to eacn
"a