New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-05-26
WHITE MANS BURDEN.
To Protect Himself, He Mast Edu-
cate the Negro.
BY Ray stannnrd Baker.

Soon after my arrival In Atlanta. and when I
had begun to understand some OF the moro ap-
parent ramhcations OF the color line. 1 asked
several Southern men whose acquaintance I had
made where I could best see the poorer criminal
class OF negroes So much has been said Of the
danger arising from this element OF Southern
population. and It plays such a part In every dis
cussIon OF the race question, that I anxious to
learn all could about II.
Go down any morning to Judge Broyles's court
they said to me- and you'll see the lowest OF the
low"
So I went down. I chose n Monday morning that
I might see to the best advantage the accumula-
ton Of the arrests Of Saturday and Sunday
Besides the police. lawyers. court officers and
white witnesses at least one hundred and Atty
spectators filed the seats behind the rail. nearly
all OF them negroes. The ordinary negro loves
nothing better than 10 sit and watch the proceed
ings of a court
A very large proportion OF the arrests that Mon
day morning were negroes, with n surprising Pro
portion of women and of mere children. Last year
3,l94 negro women We're arrested IN Atlanta. II
was altogether a pltiful and dsheartenlng exhibit
tion spectacle of sodden ignorance reckless vice.
dissipation. Most OF the cases. raveled out. led
back to the saloon.
where's your homer" the Judge would ask and
IN number OF cases the answer
"Ah come here fun de country
Over and again IL was the story Of the coun-
try negro. or the negro who had been working on
the railroad in the cotton fields In the sawmIls
who had entered upon the more complex life OF the
city.
Not few OF the cases. both black and white
showed evidences OF cocaine morphine poisoning
the bear eyes. the unsteady nerves
whats the trouble here?" asked the Judge.
Cooke" said the officer.
''Ten-seventy-five.' said the Judge. naming the
amount OF the fine.
They buy the Coke IN the form OF O. powder
and snuff IT up the nose. \ certain patent catarrh
medicine which is nearly all cocaine is sometimes
used ten cents will purchase enough to make
man wholly irresponsible for his acts. and capable
OF any crime. The cocoaine habit which seems TO
be spreading. for there always druggists who
will break the law. has been curse to the negro
and has resulted directly. the police told me-
in much crime. I was told OF two cases in par
ticular, OF offences against women. in which the
negro was victim of the drug habit.
So society in pursuit of wealth. South and North
preys upon the ignorant and weak-and then won
ders why crime Is prevalent
One has only to visit police courts in the South
to see in how many curious ways the OF the
races generates fire.
Whats the trouble here?" inquiries the fudge
The white complalnant-a boy-says:
This niger insulted me-" and he tells the cpl
tibet the negro applied.
mo. sab: I never called him no such name"
''Three- seventy-fve-you mustn't insult white peo-
pie"
The very suspicion and fear that exist give rise
TO many uliuculueS. one illuminating
up that morning. strapping negro man was
brought before the judge He showed no marks of
dissipation and was respectfully dressed. Confront
Ing him were two plain clothes policemen one with
his neck wrapped up. one with bandage around
his arm Both said they had been stabbed by the
negro with jackknife. The negro said he was
a hotel porter, and he had the white manager OF
the hotel in court to testify his good character
sobriety and industry. II seems that he was going
home from Work az = O'Clock in the evening, and II
was dark lie SAID he was afraid, and had bpeD
afraid since the riot. AT the same time the two
the negro porter and ordered him to stop Not
being IN uniform the negro said he thought the
TO attack him. When he started TO run the on
and light Rnd heTe he WSs n soT b
Judge said Your mustn't attack officers" and
Another case shows one Of the strange relation
ships Wnlcn crow out OF Southern conditions. An
brought before the judge. With him came a much
we'll dressed and looked respectabe so much |e so
indeed. that there a stir of interest and curt
Trested they stood in roG G of the }eey ud been
fHa the old 1,an hung his head but the woman
What's Is the hoe eSars sss nGt H1Y Ss see again
Adultery said the officer.
The woman WINGED; the old man did not look up.
The judge glanced from one 10 the other In SUI
..Why don't don't you get m married" he asked
: She was as white as am. probably an octoroon;
person. and she deceived even the experienced eye
Of the Judge. "
rs that % asked the Judge
The man continued TO hang his head: the woman
looked up; neither said a word. IT then came cut
that they had lived together as and wife for
many years, and that they had children nearly
grown One OF the girls-and very bright. am
bilious rtrl-as learned later was a student in At
'sna y bs bsgr Soege where she
issafrs ans t Spsnt a Some negh6og had
rs this all trUe?' asked the Judge
Neither said word
You can't marry under the Georgia law" sail
the Judge; TN have to bind you over for trial in
They were led back TO the prisoners rooms
one thing impressed me especially. not only IN
this court, but in all the others 1 have visited: a
negro brought in for drunkenness. for example
was punished much more severely than white
man arrested for the same offence. The Injustice
which the weak everywhere suffer-Nort6 md
South-is in the South visited upon the negro The
white man sometimes escaped with a reprirnand
he was sometimes fined SO costs but the negro
especially IL he had white man to intercede for.
him, was usually punished with a $40 or S5 Gne
which often meant that he must so TO the chain
gang. ~
One reason for the very large number OF arrests
In Georgia particularly-es in the fact thar rho
state and the counties make a profit out of their
prison system No attempt is made TO refor,,
= criminal either white negro; conyicts ara