Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1905-04-13
SOME PLAIN TALK
.uJDcE TRIEBER GIVES NEGROES
TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY
MUST DO.
Because They Can Not Be Held in
Peonage for Debt Doesn't Mean
They May "Deadbeat.'
TELLS THEM THEIR PLAIN DUTY

In his remarks in tho peonage cases
a Little Rock. Judge Trieber mada
the following talk to the negroes who
were the prosccutinS Witnesses:
| want to say Il few words to You
colored people Whe are here as Wit
nesses in these eases What | ain
going to say is NOT only for your own
good. but for the benefit OF all you1
reiohbors. white and black and |
want YOU upon Your return home tG
repeat to Your colured nei@hbors The
Substance OF what am now going to
siiyZto YOU So that they nay not BE-
miSled and these proceedings In this
court turn ont t. be d curse instead O.
a benefit to them.
The laws of the United States guar.
antee to every citizen. no matter what
his color may be. the protection of his.
life, liberty and property. This sys-
tenn Of peonage which seems tC have
grown up in some parts of this state,
and which | understand exists to a
very much larger extent in some other
neighbOring states over which this
court has no jurisd ctCn. is prOhib-
tied by the constitution. as we'll as
: tl,/, Jy,,itn tn1 1,n
same time, | want to say to YOU, If
& man voluntarily enters in to a con-
tract to pay of debt. he should try
if it is in his power, to carry out his
contract. but if fer any good reason.
caused by ill-trealment OF for other
causes, he finds himself unable to car
ry it out and he desires to leave his
landlord or employer tne laws say
that he has right 10 do so although
he may be held responsible in a civil
action for the Indebtedness. and his
property. if he has any. Nay be seiZ
&c by the sheriff or constable to salts
fy any Judgment A'nGered against
him for this debt \ man can not
against his will be- made TO work
whether he owes debt CT not. II a
man does leave his employer if he
owes him a debt. he is in honor bound
to pay it off as soon as he can earn
enough money to do so if he is de
tanned or prevented from leaving his
employment the courts will punish
the persons thus interfering with has
liberty: but want to impress upon
YOU this fact that these proceedings
do not mean that any man, white O.
black, can look to the government q
the courts fer support il he wants L
live in idleness, or for protection II ne
violates the laws CT his country. Mer
who will not work. bur idle and loal
about the country may be arrested
and punished for vagrancy under the
laws Of the state. Men who will tres
Apass on ether peoples property, mel
who will steal from others. break int,
smokehouses. gamble and drink anC
try to live in q dishonest way instead
OF working for their living must ex
pact to be punished for their crimes
and neither the government OF th'
United States. nor any OF its officers
nor those of the state, can be of an.
assistance to such men. You mus
realize that as citizens OF the Unite,
States you have certain duties to per
form. and the most important of thes,
duties is to work fer your living. con
duet yourselves in gentlemanly man
nar. and be careful not to violate an.
lsWs of the United States or the state
You should try to keep out of deb
il you possibly can; when you earl
money by your labor. be economical
and do not spend it, If you do tha
if will not take you long IN thi
country. where nature has so bount
fully given us a good soil and climate
f. get a home o. your own. But
yo,l do have to go into debt. be cart
fnl to keep it dowr as small as poss
bia and as honest men try tC pa
them as soon as y0u- crops are mad
and gathered. but IL no event mus
you imagine for moment tAaf Il 20
orir working @-.s '"ar around III