Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-01-23
GOV. yARDAMAN AND THE NEGRO.

THAT man of education should so
far forget himself as to make an attack
upon that educational system by which
he had profted would be a surprise in
any section of the country save that
from which Governor JAMES K. VAR
DAMAN of Mississippi halls.
His address to the legislature of that
state Tuesday, January 18th, 1904, is an
attack upon the civilizing and educa-
tional influences of education. He sand
in discussing the Nepro, and advocating
division of the school-funds of that
state:
Gas a race, he is deterioratiny moral
ly every day. Time has demonstrated
that he Is more criminal as a free man
than as slave, that he is increasing in
criminality with frightful rapidlty be-
ing one-third more criminal in 1890
than in $780,"
That any man should have the effron.
terry to criticize the Negro for criminal
ity in view of the recent disclosures
made in this country is astonishing.
Negroes, who commit crimes are al
most invariably punished and are there
fore recorded as criminals. White
men. who commit crimes are generally
excused; and only in the most fragrant
cases are they brought to justice.
The white boodlers of St. Louis. Mis-
souri,, are said to have criminally re-
ceived amounts aggregating millions,
while in nine southern states white
Democrats have stolen money, the like
of which rivals the fortune of CREssUs.
The Post Office scandals, which are
now being exposed at Washington and
the recent disclosures of corruption
among the white officials in the Philip
pines are enough to cause the average
white man to hang his head in shame
and keep silent with reference to any
of the alleged shortcomings of the
much despised, but humble Negro. Here
in Richmond city, Democratic in
vestigating committee has reported that
about half a million dollars were spent
in buying up white men with success
full view of securing the passage of GER
tain elective franchises.
According to Gov. VARDAMAN's reas-
oning, these criminal deals and immor-
al actions are due to the influence and
effect of education Possibly Gov.
VARDAMAN read Hon. WILLIAM J. BRY-
ANS speech as delivered by him at Lin
coin, Nebraska, Jan. 18th. 1904:
The latter found the same species of
immortality in white men that the form
er alleges to have found in colored ones,
for he said:
Instead of talking of concessions and
compromises, it is time for honest and
aggressive action. We are confronted
with a condition that may we'll alarm
the thoughtful and patriotic. We find
corruption everywhere. Voters are
bought at so much head, representa-
tives in our city governments are profit
ing by their positions, and even Federal
officers are selling influence. What is
the cause? The commercial spirit that
puts price on everything and resolves
every question into will it pay?' This
commercialism has given popularity to
that theory of government which per-
mits the granting of privileges to fav-
ored few and defends the theory by an
attempt to show that the money thus
given directly finds its way indirectly
back into the pockets Of the taxpayers"
There you have it. Has there ever
been an indictment against the colored
men that will surpass this one against
the white men?
Colored people are great imitators,
and we may add that they are apt pu-
pills. Their instructors have set the
example and taught them the lesson.
Gov. VARDAMAN proposes as remedy
for the conditions, the elimination of