New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1905-04-22
Jury REPORT.

To the Hon. JdMes Simon, Judge o
the Hon. 1911 Judicial Distrtc
Court IN and for the Parish o
Iberia, Louisiana.
/ The present Grand Jury begs
leave to present the following re
port:
Crime being an index of. the
standard of civilization affecting
the human race, and also ar
evidence of the degree of peace and
prosperity, or suffering, oppres
sion and want entering into the
every day life and existence of the
citizen, the family and the com
munity, We can point with pride
and pleasure to the satisfactory
condition prevailing among the
population of Iberia parish.
After a most thorough search
and most exhaustive investigation
of the criminal history of this par.
ish we find the white people al
most free from the charge Of in.
fractions of laws and especially
those of a most serious nature
and these exemptions are a favor.
able augury for the industrial
progress and a more thorough
comprehension of the civic dnties
of American citizenship by this
community and parish as well.
While it may be argued that a
white person enjoys greater i'm
mnnities from these charges on
account of peculiar conditions, OF
the protecting wing of political
leaders, who, in some way, pretend
to manage part of the movement
of the arms of law; or on account
of locnl sympathies and conditions
oi environment, still it is Il patent
fact, and creditably SO, that the
law abiding portion of the popula-
ton and the recognition of the
majesty and purpose of the law be-
long to the white people.
Crime cannot be indnlged in
long with license before the poison
manifests itself in riot aud anarchy.
1t is the deadliest virns to The
virtues forces of morality of a free
people,
1t withers and destroys the fruit
grown from the lessons and expert
enee Of human history
With great regret we turn from
these bright pages to phase Of
life in our community which at.
taches to the colored contingent.
Bitter is the disappointment and
hopeless the outlook of period of
peace and tranquility that should
have changed the characteristics of
the race.
Almost all murders and various,
serious crimes coming under our
observation, have been committed
by negroes with singular brutality
and barbarity. 1t seems evident
that the restraining influence of
civilization and the burden and re.
sponsibility of a higher order of
life, have, as yet, made no entry
in their existence.
Their turbulence and tendency
10 general depravity reflect moth
ing but a progressive degeneracy
and backward step of the race.
Given over to indiscriminate de-
bauchery and immoral orgies
among themselves they constitute
not only a menace to the life of
the white people but grave tax on
the criminal tax fund and resources
OF The parish; an expense greatly
handicapping greatly needed in
ternal improvements.
The colored preacher and the
colored teacher both shonld ad.
dress themselves more 10 an inn
provement and entire change of
the moral nature of the negro than
TO raise his emotions and hopes
over imaginary wrongs and in
iqnities resulting from his prox-
Unity TO white society.
A proper conception of the value
and nature of personal morality
and integrity would facilitate
the negro's march towards a more
useful and rational life.
Education through work and ex-
perience, more than irrational ex-
element over glimpses of other
promised lands will land him into
n heaven of service to society aud
utility to mankind.
A most reprehensible feature,
affecting the effectiveness of the
work Of grand Jurors, is the
sednlons and seductive way in
which the politician seeks to faint
the deliberations and conclusions
Df the grand jury.
The grand jury is an institution
on the first foundation
stone of the American Republic. |
It is the original fountain of public
power still remaining in the hands |
Of the common citizen, regardless
Of faith, race or religion. 10 be
effective and useful the grand jury
must be pure, honest and conscien-
ions. The introduction of bias,
Malice and political feeling re-
moves its functions, the purposes
or which and on which it exists.
The principle of equality, Justice,