The semi-weekly messenger., 1904-10-07
STRAIGHT TALK. /.
President Dudley OF the A. & NJ Col
lege for the Colored Race. Writes q
Letter.

The subjoined is a letter written by
ricultural and Mechanical college for
the colored race. 10 The News. a paper
run by members OF his race q. I.aurin-
burg:
Editor Weekly News:
For several days l have been trying
to find opportunity TO commend your
editorial upon the killing OF the white
woman at C1arkton and TO urge that
you go further In emphasizing. IL pos
sible. the duty we owe TO our respec-
tive communities as Well as 10 our
selves in assisting all efforts made TO
bring just AMI legal punishment %
the criminal element which often de-
stroys the happiness Of so many
homes OF both races. The negroes
whose work throws them I'm close con-
tact with theid white employers and
upon whom these white people muse
largely depend In forming their es-
innate OF negroes character. habits
and purposes. in many instances. un-
fortunately. fail TO represent that class
OF negroes who are managing their
own farms. conducting their own bus
iness ard who are doing most tn shape
and mould negro thought and charac-
Ter. AS this latter class is farthest
removed from their white neighbors,
1t is most frequently misunderstood.
IL is this class. Mr.. Editor. that you
represent and as l take il. do most
of your readers.
Now wnen a shocking and brutal
crime startles a community. IL Is not
generally known that the best element.
OF the race shares i'm this general in
digna;ion. on the contrary. II is Of
ten felt BY the outraged and indig-
nant whites that the entire negro race
IS in full sympathy with the negro
criminal. no matter how red handed
or heinous his crime may be. and that
practically ali negroes stand ready IN
shelter and 10 aid the negro criminal
in his escape and in any way TO de-
feaa the ends of justice IL the criminaf
should be a member Of our race. This
belief Is often as potent factor in
indiscriminate attacks on negroes at
ter fearful crime has been commit
ted. as that unjust racial prejudice OF
which our people are frequent victims
Now. We can do more than We are
doing TO dispel this erroneous belief.
Our editors. teachers and preachers
could help materially in impressins
on our people the Importance and
value OF the service we can render
| our respective communities and peo-
| pie by taking more active stand for
| the detection OF criminals. white or
| black, but more especially those with
1 whom we are unfortunately closely re-
| lated. II is a curse to any communi-
| ty or race TO have a criminal class:
| II IS a still greater curse through neg
| ligence or sympathy TO allow this
| class 10 go undetecoed and unpunish-
/ ed. Just as IL Is the duty OF every
| good citizen TO assist in strengthening
| edicts Of law and the hands of justice.
| SO q Is becoming TO every negro who
| would serve his community 10 do his
full duty in having his race disgorge
/ its criminals. and IN putting them
| where they can do the least 10 blackes
| the good name OF our race or TO dis
| turb the peace and happiness OF our
| homes. I could write much on this
| subject. but such Is not now my pur-
pose. / am simply writing 10 urge
You TO ring the changes upon the edi-
| torial, as you have certainly struck q
| line of thought we need 10 consider.
| the discussion of which will surely
prove most wholesome to our commu-
| mites and TO our people.
Very respectfully.
JAMES B. DUDLEY.