The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-07-24
THE NEGRO.
Let Him Have Justice-SOme Points
TO Think of in Regard to Him.

Within the past few days manifesto
ions against negroes in Kansas, Indi-
ana and PENNSYLVANIA ~Pre-e-tei two
or three phases of the feeling OF whites
under certain circumstances
wherever the negroes in their migra-
|tionS mass themselves. At Evansville,
Ind, the murder of 4 policeman by a
negro was the occasion OF rioting of the
most pronounced character, resulting in
the death of several Persons and the
~lwounding of others by the military. At
Philadelphia there was a free fight OF
whites and blacks, IL which clubs,
and fists were used indlScrlml-
nately, with a record of one person
Killed and several others injured. These
occurrences, unless a powerful public
sentiment i~ntervenes, are likely to be
duplicated in northern and western
communities. They have become more
frequent recently because Of the incli-
nation of the mob anywhere to Wreak
tits passions against any class which for
1.-THE moment happens to occupy a large
Ispace in the public eye. 1t is the mis-
fortune of the negro that his fool
Friends insist upon keeping him before
the public, and consequently making
him game for the mob.
Sid by side with sucn a feeling is an
lother, rather monopolizcd by commu-
mites outside the south. Shown diSaS-
ltrously at Pana, Ill, a few years ago,
when negroeS were brought into the
local fields to take the places of striking
miners, it again comes to the surface
lin Kansas, where, according to dis
patches from Topeka d race war has
been threatened in thu belt. There is
la good demand for harvesters, and ne
lgroes are ;f1ocking thither by every
train. The whites declare that they will
mot work with the negroes and that
1.-THE latter shall not work in the harvest
fields, and appeals have already been
made to the governor for protection
from threatening white MODS.
Though some may attempt to justify
mob action against the negro on one
particular ground, there car be abso-
llutely nothing but Indignation at the
Esprit which refuses to permit the negro
Ito make an honest living. That spirit
lis a novelty for the negroes. They have
mot been accustomed to it in the south.
There, instead of emu being closed
Ito them, the opportunities for work are
mot infrequently greater than the num-
der of men and women ready and will
ling to seize them. 1t must be a shock
flor them to discover the obstacles put
i'm their way in this respect as soon as
they cross the imaginary line supposed
Ito separate great sections of the
TRY. Crossing the Ohio or passing be-
lyond the Potomac into Pennsylvania,
New York and beyond, they are con
ifronted by beautiful theories about
lequility of all men; they a access to
public schools if they happen into com
lmunitieS where their nunber is incon-
lsequential; they are welcomed to a few
colleges, and they associate as equals
If not as SuperiorS With a small class
becoming ever smaller, Of fetch wor-
lshiers. Moreover, they may ride with
white folk on street cars and on rail
road trains, may vote without restraint
Except where there are education o.
IOther qualifications not unlike those
They leave in the south; under fam
lboyant auspices they may be appointed
Ito federal office and in cOmmunitles
where their fellows have been gerry.
lmandered in the laying out Of nes O
political divisions they nay Ven b.
elected to office just as happens here
land there in the south. Those of them
ltoo, who find life iutolerable in thu
south find c~ongenial associates in thu
lpurlieus Of Philadelphia, New York
lChicago and other cities. But theiI
lchance to become cooks, walters ant
|other kinds of household servants, TO
(which they were once so eminent!
Qualified, seems to be diminishing almos
lin proportion to the increase in thei
lchance to be .'educatad," and there il
undoubtedly a growing disposition t.
resist their attempts to enter industrial
fields. Consequently, they face outsid'
1.-THE south h rankest kind of injustice
They ask for bread, and are given
tstone; they ask for fish, and are givel