Richmond planet., 1905-01-07
VOL. x XII NO 5.
REV. DIR. JOHNSON SPEAKS AGAIN.


Still After Southern White Folks.
Makes Some Concessions s.-Argues
Points of Law.-Much Disturb
ed Over Existing Condi-
Hon. JOHN MITCHELL, JR.,
Dear Sir:
You are aware that anticipated that
4 was up against a sharp two-edged
swo'd when venturing to take issue with
the regularity with which you seem to
apologize. for the white people Of the
South continuing to allow this carnage.
blood shed, anarchy, and even general
Iswiessness. declare to you. there il
absolutely no real, true republican, form
OF government in the South, for five
States have, in the face of she Consti
tuition disfranohised hundreds Of thous-
ands OF its citizens, simply and solely
on the account of their color.
THE FEDERAL AMENDMENT.
The 14th amendment to the Oonstitu
tion says, ''all persons born or
naturalized in the United States ars
citizens Of the United States and of
the states wherein they reside: and
that no state shall make or enforce
any law that will abridge the privileges
or lmmunities Of the citizens of the
United States" You see by this article
that men are citizens of the United
States before they are of the States, be-
cause 1t says that born or nsturalized
In the United States" they are ''citizens
OF the United States, thus the oonsItu-
tion and amendments make them clti-
zens OF the States, because they are citi.
OF the United States.
THE POINT BE EMPHASIZED.
It was on this ground that made tb.
poant that the States, IL they could NOT
control she mobs, should appeal to the
United States authorities. That the
United States authorities had been ders-
lot In the cases you cite. is no arsu-
utent Against. tb.s ppiut sh... Il r.. ,sh.s
duty OF the States, il they oannos com
troll the mob In the States, TO appeal to
the United States government.
You cite incident after incident vhsre
appeals have bee. MADE szx DEAF ear
t.rnsd. give you two incidents where
tne government has taken authority TO
interfere where tho mob rsiSned:
ZEE RIGHTS OF sYAYns.
In Mr.. Hayes admj nistration, regard.
less OF that heartlsss and non. state.-
man like declaration Of his, that IL a
state coald not sustain itsslf-or words
TO that enect-it must 60 down; he,
himself, when the labor riots occurred In
Baltimore and Pittsburf, called ous the
militia TO put the mob down. And You
hayent forgotten President Cleveland's o
attitude toward the mob. when sSers
was labor strike on In Chicago whi.h
stopped the United States Mail and tbs
progress or commerce, that Prssidsnt
cleveland, against the governors pro-
test, sent troops to Chicago, and put the
mob down? The point I am irving TO
make here, is, that we have n central
govern ment, and that central govern
ment Is the United States; and that she
United States Is the supreme power re-
CARELESS Of the declaration Of the indie
pendence Of the States.
The States are only independents whsn
they do not conflict with the Conssitu-
ton of the United States; when ,hey do.
the United States Constitution takes
Precedence;
AGAIN DEMANDS ACfIoH.
NOW sur, we are citizens of the United
states before we are citizens of ths
states; and sir, she Southern Statea
have proven themselves incsmpescnt
to manage the mob. I hold thai IA Ia
Sne moral duty Of tho governors Of such
states, TO either acknowledge inability
20 control the mob, or confess indisposi-
tion to do 80. Doing that hold 10 is
tne DUTY OF the National governments 10
:tep IN, In order 10 preserve . rs2abii-
can form OF government, and sey 10
these states; "You must either keen or.
der, or take marvial rule" And ! thipk
II very unbsconing In any one Of eur
race 70 apologize for the loossnsss of
government In tho South, simply ON the
basis OF the fast that In oertsin fndiyid-
ual cases these state governors have
stood out for the preservation of shs
laws within thstr ssasss.
You quote great moral prsssdsnt in
your closing words, Whatsoever Va
would men shoalt do b yoz. do 70 even
30 10 them."
SPECIFIC QUBsslsxs.
Why not apply that 10 the Nayors AZ
cities; to the judges of couYss; 20 ths
Governors OF States; 10 the white pvlpia
and churches and Sunday Schools 80
dlsrniss and 30 By tens Of thousands 70
lynchings?
Why not apply that 10 the minister,
In the pulpis In Wilmington. Del.
where eolored mon coming home from
the factories found their homes on
hre and mob In che streets with load.
ed gans, and shs hard ware stsres whsrs
guns and ammunition might be procsr-
ed, closed 10 shom?
Why not apply ID to sach . nnoby
repeat why NOS apply 10 10 the minister.
OF Wllm1ngtsA, and especially 10 one
Presbyterian minister who said in sfYeot
thai he was only sorry that he was NOT
the leader Of the mob and had mos on
portanity to "shoot q Niger down"