The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1903-07-18
le Negro Problem in Delaware.
From the Baltimore sun.

FROM Ine Baltimore sun
1t seems that the negro beast who outraged
and murdered Miss Bishop near Wilmington
had been arrested for a somewhat similar of
| feuse some time ago in Pennsylvania Com
menting on this fact Rev. Dr. Bishop, the
| father OF the murdered girl, said
| notice that one ofthe Philadelphia papers
criticises the action of the mob and declares
that such thing could not happen in Phil
adelphia If such thing had happened in
Pennsylvania when the same negro was ar
rested for a criminal assault he would never
have had chance 10 repeat the offense in
Delaware.
In other words, Pennsylvania law turned
loose upon society human wild beast to prey
upon the innocent and defenseless. If any
thing can justify lynch law, that would do it.
What would be said of man who deliberately
and knowingly turned a mad dog among
throngs of children? And yet these Penn
sylvania officials, if DR.. Bishop, who is Penn
sylvanan, is correct, turned loose a beast
compared with whom mad dog is a harmless
and benevolent creature. And there was the
Delaware court, instead of making instant
preparation TO swing the wretch from the gal
lows without the unnecessary delay of one
hour, deliberately deferring his trial. That
delay meant, of course, chances of escape or
Of some miscarriage of justice. And even if
he were to be finally hanged, the delay would
have robbed the punishment of its impressive
ness and warning.
These considerations moved Gen. Isaac
Jones Wislar, a sober. discreet, conservative
citizen of Philadelphia, Of mature age, q law
yer with every bias in favor of the orderly ad-
mnistrauon of justice, to make the statement
where the laws are not enforced, it remains
for the public to protect themselves by their
Q L., l. Id 4baA,,
the place where he has his summer home in
Delaware, in the most densely populated part
of the State aud on the edge of its largest city,
children cannot venture with safety half
/ mile on the public highways. There is con-
slant danger of just such a fate as overlook
I the innocent young girl who fell a victim to
/ the bestial terOcity of the negro White.
Iu the course Of his remarks General Wistar
said
4 Here in Delaware children cannot go from
my place to school, the distance of one-half
/ mile, without being accompanied at least part
4 Of the way. This has been the case for some
/ years past. There can be 10 social safety or
/ orderly industry without the assured safety
/ of the home and the family, and we have no
/ longer got it in Delaware The State is overrun
/ with predatory negroes from the South, who
/ live with little or no work, but chiefly on what
/ they can earn out of politics
General Wistar here hints at matter that
4 is deserving Of more than passing notice.
/ Ii Is politics. That has been the bane and
! the curse of the negro for 30 years. 1t was
! the political leaders from the North who
/ sowed the seed Of enmity toward his white
/ friends and neighbors in :he heart of the negro.
/ Il was politics and the price of his vote which
/ attracted the class Of negroes to which White
/ belonged to Delaware and it Is politics which
/ largely creates that class of negro criminals
which is found ia every part of the South
/ While he does not say so plainly, General Wis
/ tar evidently finds much to Justify the lawless
/ outbreak at Wilmington, upon which the press
4 Of the country is now commenting, and largely
without sufficient knowledge Of the local con
I ditious.
/ But if white women and children are not
/ safe in their homes and upon the highways
/ Of Delaware, ia part OF the State densely
/ settled and guarded by police, and where the
/ white population greatly predominateS, what
/ Is 10 be said Of those communities in the South
/ where a white family IS isolated amid negroes,
miles from the nearest white neighbor and far
/ out Of reach of the protecting arm of the law.
4 II political conditions should attract large
negro population 70 the Northern States, as
has been done IN Delaware, then the people
Of those States may learn a lesson about the
race problem which will cause them to repent
Of the harsh aud unjust criticisms of the South
aud its people who have been facing that prob
/. lem for generation and IN that time have
drunk the very dregs of the cup of bitterness.