The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-10-29

ceive for the sale of whisky. The legis- latGre might fix the license so high that hundreds of small dives around the edges of the cities-breedng places for crime many of them-and loafers and Vagrants' clubs, will be compelled to close up.
 It is complained that the black man does not get good treatment in the courts. This is q fair charge. It seems to be true, and l am not sure it is not true without seems. And yet the statute may rot primarily operate unfairly against him. He may really get no more than the strict word of the law prescrbes for the crime, but we all know that the white man gets less many times than the law provides This is deplorable. On many occasions I have stood up to declare that equal and exact justice should be done all men in the courts. one might reflect however, that a worthless person, white or black, with no money and no friends, is likely to get the supreme penalty, while on the other hand, the man with means, with life of decent conduct be- hind him, and friends in the court, will prevail upon iuries through sharp and shrewd lawyers 10 grant him undeserved clemency.
 More Serious Charge.
 The more serious crime charged against your people when special case is known. stops the leaping blood in the veins, palsles the heart; dazes the brain-to turn loose moment afterward a fiend in that persons body. God above! Let us hope that another situation among us like this will be long delayed. But. as l have said, II is the eternal and well-nigh universal presence of the smaller crime that pro duces that thinness of surface that di vldes general order from general disor- der. Add to this this other crime. The kings army could hardly hold back that Al moment which with only natures arms are well-nigh invincible. This last army wrecks a confused purpose upon the in nocent and guilty alike. Horrible, hor- rlble is lynching, not only because it is a trampling upon the sacred statutes, but because in one-half of the eases the mobs anger falls upon the unproven and even innocent victim. More than one time since ] have occupied the executive chair, the ruthless vlolators have laid their illegal and impious hands upon a man as innocent of the offense charged as an angel
 The Present Problem.
 How to live together: This is our problem, yours and mine Those people who live at a distance, however well meaning can give us no help. except by giving us d tree way with 1t. 1 say 1t is a problem for your race and mine, and yet l DelieNe It IS d pfoDleil more TOT your race than for mine. We need an army of good colored men in every sec ton of this state to stand out boldly in favor Of demanding reverence far the statutes of the state. There are many brave men and honest men among your people that recognize the sacredness of the divine and human statutes. but hesi- tate 10 make themselves felt iu war on those who violate them. They are honest but inactive. Many of your wom- en are VrtuOus as the women of any people. They keep their homes in order like Martha. Their husbands rise mp to call them blessed. and their children praise them. However. vast army If non-wage earners allow their children un- kempt. their house 10 remain in untidy condition. and all the surroundings sug- gesting a visit from the sanitary inspec- tor It is difficult to be Cody and dirty. These last ought to be considered vag- rants in the law. however able their re- spective husbands are to provide for thetn
 Must Keep the Law.
 ''I accept the responsibility. in part, for the appointment of registrars who dis