Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1906-10-08
THORNTON TALKS
.OFCRIMINAL NEGRO
Agrees With Washington
That There Can Be Too
Many Leaders"
SEES BRIGHT DAY AHEAD

preaching on the subject ~The criminal
Negro" taking his text from Ezekiel
q: 30. make a chain, for the land is
full Of bloody crimes. ana the city is
full OF violence"
\ Mr. Thornton said: 'eN tnrT
Another campaign Is On in Delaware.
the balance OF power resides in the, ne
gro, he will get the least out OF 1t, un-
fortunately he becomes the hob goblin
In the present as In the past and be he
good, better or worse, he stands the
lunenyiabie az these times, between the
upper and the lower nether-stone, the
prey. Of the interruptions politician.
A Convention on the Criminal Negro.
BY an article IN the daily papers a
few days ago, 1 learned 70 my disgust
that such a meeting Is to be called at
the State Capital by some time serving,
lpoiticai-job hankering and hungering
negroes. II strikes me that a mistake
has been made IN the announcement
and that this affair could better be
termed "A convention OF the criminal
negroes" They and their purpose re-
mind nc OF the mule which ate the
shipping tag from his leg. An old ne
gro exclalmed Gee, dat mule dun eat
up hia whar-he's- gwine." This is ex-
actiy the mastercation that will result
IN the feast OF resolutions that VIII be
passed upon by this so-called body OF
.reformers.
with Booker T. Washington, I. too.
believe "That one Of the greatest dam
gers OF the race IS the producing too
many leaders" Too many start out 70
lead somebody, to give advice to some
body, before they themselves have set
the example that leadership implies.
Many Of us are ambitious 10 give adj
vice. but we ought TO remember that
our words win be valuable Just In pro-
portion as they are exemplihed In hon
esty Of life and industry Of purpose.
Never were words more golden or
amenahle TO insincere purpose than
these. would rather be frank, feel
ing / am right than the puppet who
knows he is wrong. but feels ne can
get by with a smile OF deceit.
am personally acquainted with most
OF these would-be leaders and reform
} ers that have announced the necessity
. Of this criminal convention l have
r had many talks with them on the race
Ilu'nAlNAif AAAu AZ IAANAA' An'S NNNA 1NAN
] believe IN common with myself but top
off by saying, "Think one thing. but
, in saying fool the white man with an
) other" This IN my honest conviction
: is the depth Of the virtue OF the hearts
behind this political play at Dover. TO
5 fool the whites and get the little boot
lick pap that's coming" Here is Bru-
tus with his dagger OF danger and Cae-
a. A a.
reason denounce the insinoerity Of
this Insecure leadership as bad for the
white man as well as the negro. In al
that they do none have any results thai
they can rely upon. Surely such 9
class are the worst OF criminals, NOR
ally they are the most heinous, with a
heart full Of malice, hatred and revenge
but an intelligent head to furnish ih'
language Of deceit which is worse
Such a one or the unfortunate inebri.
late that finds his way to the police
ifcourts and IS secure for a time behind
prison bars? l repeat when these de.
: ceivers OF the race and everybody else
b get together that they begin crimina
! reform within themselves. This the,
can best do by saying what they NEAR
, and treating the question In the ligh
/ OF truth With this done. with a mar
gin Of time for inspection. the wei
! meaning and impartial viii be bettei
, prepared to digest the larger mesl
prematurely they have in keeping FOL
!, them
II is said by the self-styied leaders
that are dying for a convention Of re-
solves, that the Delaware negro fur
, nishing the largest feed for criminals
are the sloven. uncouth and dirty ell
ement. wonder how many Of these
apostles Of cleanliness have a practi.
. cal lesson to offer. Of some public BATH
! they have instituted IN their locality
A convention isn't necessary for this
my brother. Several gross Of soap in.
troduced into your community will take
r care OF the nnwashed that mingle Will
. the public, that travel on trains and
! hang around depots, reducing this
! source Of danger 20 per cent.
II the trouble that disgraces the ne
1, gro Of this state Is from the emlgrani
class. perhaps the refugee from JUS
tice elsewhere. his case is a distinct
one A distinguished judge OF this
S. state has said so. His word and in
Is formation viii certainly be accepted By
a. the white public. This exonerates IN,
le home negro. He couldn't conclude MOI
IF say any more II he was IN conven.
o. ton for a month. And then II he 81
concluded. II would fail Of the weigh
as coming from this impartial citizen
The negroes duty with this enlighten
ment on the subject is ended. excep
l. wherein he may be Interested as a wit
ness because OF knowledge OF some sii
on the part OF the strange man OF color
is oh. but you say, the negro mus
I'd help; he must preach and teach and ex
S. pose and create a big noise by con
pr vent.on. Yet l perceive by the verde
" from the source criticism should come
n any, that the negro in these respect
D. has done his work we'll. especial
m where most expected. among those wit
whom he lives and to whom IL Is HI
s. duty constantly to administer. 9Th
ig negro here IS all right" our critics sa'
re The criminal negro that gives us III
Is largest per- cent OF crime is here onl
" about as hours" before his havoc DC
Al gins In that time what means are
n the hands Of the negroes Of this stat
< or city to check or reform such a elias
who are Internationally hopeless bs
IA fore they strike our soil2
rs This Is a serious question and a poiI
ne not lightly 10 be considered by N
IA fair-minded- The negro church car
n not reach such n. class I'm this shol