Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-03-05
PROF. WASHINGTON SPEAKS
BOLDLY.

PROF. B p)Kee T. WAsHtNGroN has
at last ava Seusi from ong sleep. His
here to f ire dealt with glitter
ing gslsctli5ies. bus communica ton
81 tae birmingham, Aaotma AGE
tERaLD under date of Feb. %, 1904 tells
+ specific outrages.
This letter, coupled with his LIN :.
'oLN'S Birth day speech at New York
sch. ~, 1904 comprises an addition to
ational literature which will Sbe as
gratifying to the colored people gener-
.ly as it should be to the lovers of JUS
ICE every where.
he aid:
Within the last fortnight three
members of my race have been burned
4, the stake; of these one was woman.
>ot one OF the three was charged with
ny crime even remotely connected with
ne abuse of white woman. In every
ise murCer was the sole accusation. All
It the burnings took place in broad
,ayhght, and two of them occurred on
'undav afternoon, in sight of Chris
Ian church.
iu the midst of the nations busy and
rosperous life, few, l fear, take time TO
consider whittier these brutal aud in
'unian practices are leading us. The
;ustoui o. burning human beings has
'core so common as scarcely to excite
Interest or attract unusual attention.
we always been among those who
,ndemn III the strongest terms crimes
OF whatever character committed by
IN 'mbers of my race, and 1 condemn
tl-m now with equal severity, but 1
IN tlntain that the only protection of our
civilization IS a fair and calm trial of all
"ple charged with crime and in their
leSat punishment, if proved guilty.
L Iere Is no shadow of excuse from legal
III -thods IN the cases of individuals ac-
Gu Ied of murder. The laws are, as a
rui made by the white people, and
tn III execution is by the hands of the
w ute people, SO that there is little
pr liability Of any guilty colored man
ed ;apIng.
And again:
These burnings without trial are in
tn deepest sense unjust to my race; but
1t not this injustice alone which stirs
my heart These barbarous scenes, fol.
lowed as they are by the publication Of
the shocking details, are more disgrace.
full and degrading Co the people who in
fh1t the punishment than those who
receive It,
1T the law is disregarded when n
NEGRO is concerned, it will soon be dis
regarded when a white man is concern
ed, and, besides, the rule Of the mob de-
strJys the friendly relations which
should exist between the races, aud in
jurvs and interfere with the material
pr sperlty of The communities concern
ed.
Worst OF all, these outrages take
pl zee in communities where there are
Christian chuI ches; in the midst of the
people who have their Sunday schools.
their Christian Endeavor Societies. and
Young Mems Christian Association.
where collections are taken up for send
ing missionaries TO Afr ca and China and
the rest of the SO called heather world
is 1t not possible for pulpit and press to
peak out against these burnings in a
manner that shall arouse public sensi-
ment that will compel the mob to cease
insulting our courts. our governors, and
our legal authority, cease bringing
shame and ridicule upon our Christian
civilization
This is unquestionably the most un-
trammeled appeal that Prof. Washing
ton has ever made to the public. Well,
1t reads like an editorial in the PLANET
on lynch,ng. Truly has change come
over the Wizard of Tuskegee."
Lynch-law must gol