Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1903-09-04
THE COLORED
CITIZENS SPEAK


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Following was prepared, aud unani-
mousiy adopted: The subject of this
meeting is to condemn the heinous
crimes which are being perpetrated
every day by the low, brutal and
vicious element of the race. Such
lcrimes as come TO public notice with
each issue OF the press are So revolt
ing as to call for our most bitter
condemnation.
We wish n understood that we are
no more IN sympathy with the rap
lists OF our race than the white peo-
pie are, and wish rs ardently To see
1t suppressed. We know that the best
el ement of oui people are thorough
believers in law and order, and hold
Indignation meetings often To SO ex-
press themselves; but there being so
few newspapers published by colorc Il
people the white people fail to see
what we are doing aud saying.
Hence we so often hear it said that
the masses of the eolored people con
done, instead of condeming these
lawlesS and brutal deeds, which is
mn iutolorable injustice, that tends
to brand indiscriminGtely the entire
race, us brutes and rapists, a stigma
too horrible to contemplate.
We hope that the liberal minded
white people OF the country the thu.
friends of the negro-will come to
our rescue, and help US throw off this
black pail of unjust censure, AMI
not eternally damn the Industrious,
law-a-hiding. property owning, tax
pay Ing element OF our race because
of the lnathsome crimes committed
10y the lazy, thiiGtless and lawless
element, which has nothing in COM
mon with good government and true
citizenship.
We deeply deplore mob law, and
believe il TO be in direct opposition
10 the spirit of good government,
but sec no hope as long as the usual
crime is committed. If there is moth
ing done TO check il we fear n state
OF anarchy and harvest OF crime
will as surely follow, as the night
follows the day, pcrmeating all classes
of society, leaving in its wake, ruin
and death.
But what is the remedy for the
crime that causes this awful state
az affairs-that causes whole
nation. East, West, North and South,
where ever the deed is committed,
4" los it's reason, go stark mad, de-
fy'ng Judge and jury, taking the
law in their own hands. burns the
guilty brute at the stake, and actual
ly fight for bits of charod flesh as
souveniers of their horrible workR
Still the fiend continues TO do his
helish work, lynching aud burning
has no terrors for him, and the fact
that it does continue regardless OF
what happens few hours later is
positive evidence to our minds that
in the majority OF cases he is too
ignorant 10 read, therofora dosen't
know that just across the way
yesterday perhaps, negro was burn
cd for the same crime he contem-
plates doing TO day.
We believe that the only and GER
tain remedy, one that should by ems
actment become II law and be known
from one end of the continent to the
other, AZ the brand of rapist, is
castration, together with shaving off,
not one but both ears close TO the
head. He would certainly then be q
living object lesson, despised and
T shuned by all, and would do more tC
, deter crime than all The lynchings
that have occurred siuce the first ra p.
was committed.
We too believe that God in HI.
wisdom made man the natural pro
= tector of womanhood, and it is al
much the duty of the negro to qua rd
and protect her as NJ Is the man %
any other race or color.
Now what hurts the negro rae,
!, most of all, and tends more To dwar
p and impeed its Progress, is that i
should be held respo nsible befor'
the world FOR the mad acts of il
lawless class, an injustice done 4
b. no other race of people.
i AS idleness breeds crime we hearti
ly endorse the plan adopted in Ger
tain sections, by our people drivinl
from their midst all lazy and indo
y lent negroes who haven't any visibl
means of support, and who will no
work for love or money, ~ constan
menace to law and decency. Thi
plan is good and wholesome on
and should be In full force in ever
community.