The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-01-20
Tile Race Deteri riorating Morally.
Every Day, 2 cclarcss Cover &
nor James ! 81 <. K.Vardanl;ail.s
THOSE5NHO READ AND 5....
M. WRITE ARE The WORST
Less Crilninality Among .lllitttc,-
rate Negroes Than Than Ans -At'.lrlnlocing.
Others Increase iii Ur1nen-
tionablc. Crime DueMto
Negro's Aspiration. for fo:'r$ \.
Social Equality.
(By Associated Press.)

JACKSON. MISS. Jan. 19.--ln his In.
augura address delivered to-day before
joint session ofthe Mississippi Lcgls.
slature, Governor James Il. Vardaman de-
clared that the growing tendency OF the
negro 10 commit criminal assault on white
women is nothing more or less than the
manifestation OF the. racial desire Tor
social equality. In strong terms he de-
clared that education Is the curse Of the
negro race, and urged an amendment TO
the State Constitution that will place the
distribution Of the common school fund
solely within the power Of the LegislaTT
ture. Continuing his discussion Of tho
negro question, Governor Nardaman said;
S..As a. race he is deterioratlng morally
icyery day. Time has demonstrated that
he is more criminal as a. free man than
as a slave, that he is increasing IN
criminaIityE with ,frightful Tapidity, being
one third more criminal ii 1890 than 'n
1884. .3. e i. 81
Startling Facts.
Tho starting facts revealed by the
census show how that those who can
read md write are more criminal than
b the illlteratcs, which is true OF no other
element OF our population. I am advised
that the minimum illiteracy among the
negroes is found In hew England. where
1t is 2l7 per cent. The ma ximllm was found
In the black belt-Louisiana. mississippi.
!. and South Carolna-where 1t Is ee.I per.
cent. And, vet the negro In New England
Is four and half times more crtml-
nal hundred for hundred than he Is in
the black belt. In the South, Mississippi
particularly, l know he is growing worse
every year. You can scarcely pick up a
newspaper whose ages are not blackencd
With the account Of an unmentionable
crime committed by a negro brute, and
this crime. ! want to impress upon YOU
is but the manifestation OF the negro s as
pirations for social equality, encouraged
largely by lie character of free educn-
ton In vogue, which the State is levy
Ing tribute upon the white people to
maintain.
''Thc better class OF negroes IS not re-
sponsible for this terrible condition, nor
tor the criminal tendency OF .neir race
Nor do I wish to lie understood as cen'
SurlnE IuEUl lOI ~. eAAAA 49,
ANYBODY. nor am 1 inspired by III viii
FOR. the negro. but am simply calling at
tentlon TO almost unfortunate and un.
endura BILE condition of affairs. What
shall be done about 1t?
Change Character.
"My own iden is ..at the character
of the education for the negro ought
to be changed. II after years Of earnest
effort and the expenditure OF fabulous
sums OF m oney to educate his head. We
have only succeeded In making 2 cr'mi-
nal out of him and imperiling his Nsc-
fulness ana efficiency as laborer. WIS
dom would suggest that ;re make another
experiment and sec II we cannot improve
,, him by educating HIS hand and heart,
There must be n moral substratum upon
which to build, or you cannot make y
desirable citizen,
The Governor also declares that the
people or the nation shouln rise up and
demand the rcpenl. of tho fifteenth
amendment.