New-York tribune., 1905-08-01
NEGRO ASKS SQUARE DEAL.
Saws Low Whites Are Equally to Blame for
Race Riots-Would Garry Arms.

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: have read with interest your recent edi-
toriaI on the race riots in New-York. and would
like to say q few words on the same subject
Three Of our minister's the Rev. Messrs. Simms
e. NJ MCDANIEL and n. 5. Epps recently con-
suited with Police Commissioner McAdoo and pre-
sented facts concerning yhe riots between whites
and blacks in the Sixties. Mr.. McAdoo, among
other things. told the ministers that he would do
everything in his power TO protect the law-abiding
orderly and honest people Of both races
That part OF the statement is both cOmnendable
and appreciated but what chance has colored
man who is not looking for trouble when
attacked by a crowd Of white rUff1ans. il he hasn't
a pistol to stand them off until assistance comes!
Now, the respectable element of our race does not
wish to carry firearms weapons. but in times
like these it seems if it ought to be permissible
for respectable colored men to carry some weapon
seIf-protecton. especially those that live in the
districts where the riots have occurred 49,. ..,.
Mrs. Christopher, the colored woman whose nus
band shot, said that her husband was innocent
Ieves the policemen are in league with the whites
and beat the COlOred men on the least proVocatlon
The writer believes the statement of Mrs Chris
tophe-. The police do seem 10 be IN league Win
the whites, as alleged When policeman arrives arrives
Commissioner McAdoo issued a statement.
the causes of these riots and also to sugges: rem
efes 70 prevent them in the future Now, think think
ber of policemen on patrol IN all these districts
Pecially in the Sixties. so as 10 put stop lIne-
diately to any disturbance that may arise and cul,
Prejudice and a deep hatred for the negroes
the sole of all these riots and disturbances
Why, am unable to explain Take the riot of last
Friday night; its cause was Just a simple matter.
whom some white boys were molesting: the boys
turned on the negro, who fought back, causing the
riot. Now. you don't blame the negroes for this
The remedy for all these racial frictions rests
solely with the police and real estate owners OF
this city. There are hundreds OF houses being
erected to-day. and there hardly FIVE built
peciaIly for colored people. Why is IL? The col
ored tenant pays his rent just regularly as any
At present the respectable class Of colored people
compelled to live in localities where the bad
element predominates. and when riots and dis
turbances break out the public judges the good
negro as it does those of the vilest character and
Commissioner McAdoo and Mayor Mcclellan
ought to see that these race riots should cease
blocks wherein whites and blacks reside. and they
should keep close watch 70 prevent clashes be-
The sentiment Of the colored people is partly
voiced in an editorial in The New-York Tribune
of July 16. which says in part:
Tha negro is here as a weak and. 10 some
extent an OstraciZed element in our population He
is the under dog in our Industrial as well as
in our social system IT is, therefore. all the
deal" We should not put respectable blacks and
criminal blacks the same level. We should
encouraging the good negro while discouraging the
bad Least of all should we put In practice
man is 10 be judged by his individual con-
duct but by the color of his skin. be il white
black or yellow
That's all we want-a square deal'' more.
II there be any doubt about this question let
Editor of The Tribune, or one OF his reporters.
these corners or through some Of these streets
wherein the whites that always looking for
trouble predornlnaIe and see IoT IF 9ise
No ODD West 64th-st.. New-York City.