Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1906-08-10
Law Should Be Severe.

Senator Blair Lee, of Montgomery coun
", is not only inclined to favor the eetab-
lishment OF central place for the execution
OF death sentences in this State, but he would
go step farther and see that more severe
penalties are imposed on negro criminals.
he believes that the black man has not
wholesome respect for the law as admins
tered by the white man, and In order to
bring about "strict and severe regulation"
would add to the penalties. In response
to telegram from The Nesos, Senator Lee
writes as follows from his home, at Silver
Spring, Md:
Your inquiry as to my opinion on the
place for the execution Of death sentences,
and, presumably, confinement Of prisoners
under indictment for charges which might
involve this grsvest penalty of the law, lie
Just received, as have been away for ten
days.
Economy and efficiency would both seem
TO point In the direction of the change you
propose, and unless some better arguments
than those yet published to the contrary are
brought forward, would be inclined to
support this timely suggestion.
There Is another line of thought in this
connection to which would invite atten-
ton. II seems obvious that more severe
punishment OF vsgrant and criminal negroes
Tor petty offenses is greatly needed. Not
withstandng the good character and faith
full service which so many colored people
give, the majority of the race requires strict
and severe regulation. This race was al
ways subject in Africa to arbitrary govern.
ment. From this heredity and the fact that
remarkable improvement came to them
In this country as slaves, and, further, that
when the regulation of slavery existed crimes
OF this sort were not committed, 1t would
seem clear that, In the interest Of the negro
race itself and OF its importance and useful
ness to the white race, there must be more
effective and severe regulation OF vagrant
ard criminal blacks. Respectable and
thoughtful negroes will understand the
situation Just as well as our white people,
who, Ike myself, were raised on the farm
In daily contact and with most kindly feel.
ings to the slaves.
Criminal negroes do not object to short
jail sentences, and, as matters now stand,
in many caseA the first really corrective In
fuence they come up against lie the hang
man. ~
Our duty to the black race is, however,
insignificant In comparison with the pro-
lection of our own. Lynching by mobs or
lawful executions after these great crimes
are not calculated TO do away with the
dreadful menace TO which the women OF
our race are subjected In the presence Of the
untamed passions OF these aboriginal peo-
Pile. Corrective punishment OF vigorous
and severe nature for their first otfense
against law and order, as above suggested,
will bring to the African mind of the lowest
sort Difference for the white man and the
white woman which Ia greatly needed at
present
Some years ago police court Judge who
had great experience in dealing with the
African criminal element commented to me
on the remarkable indifference OF that race
| to the rights and lives OF one another, and
| said that If they mutilated white people
with the same Indifference that they did
one another race war would be almost
| Immediate That was some years ago, and,
| as the influence Of slavery wears on violent
crimes by negroes against white men, as well
| as women, are becoming more numerous
and will continue to increase with rapidity
| in all probability unless some deliberate and
| reasonable methods OF correction are arriv-
ed at. Many farmers are beginning TO feel
like settlers living on the edge OF an Indian
country.
There Is large per cent Of negro men
who are unwilling TO work and who live
upon the labor OF their women or upon
| what they can steal From this class comes
the more serious criminals, whose petty
offenses have been so triled with that their
| fear OF the white man and the law has van
ished. Hard labor under superntendents
with full authority to fog for any lack OF
| Industry or respect will soon convince these
people that they must go to work or leave
the State, and will make the negro tramp
shy OF our borders +tf
When establishing, therefore, central
hanging place for negroes, for that Is what
1t will amount to In the main, 1t becomes us
"a Christian people. desiring to do our duty
TO our neighbors and ourselves, to under
take the regulation of this race In the proper
spirit and the creation OF penal institutions
80 organized that they will be effective for
this regulation.
Without doubt, II anything along the
lines of these suggestions were attempted
there would be an outcry from ignorant and
/ preiudiced philanthropists In Massachusetts
and elsewhere, but they are mostly faddists
and absolutely ignorant Of the emotional
character of the ordinary negro, and equal
ly ignorant OF the present rapid degeneracy
of this race and lie urgent need for firm and
friendly help. Very truly yours,
BLAIR LEE.