The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1908-07-09
THE NEGRO NDHOMICIDE,
High Rate of Killing in This
Country Due to Blacks.
Mobile Register.


Country Due to Blacks.
Mobile Register.
The high rate of homicide to
the population in this country,
which is just now one of our ma
tional reproaches, may lead some
observers to believe that there
is something in our civilization
or our political or social institu-
tions which breeds an inclination
to murder. That supposition
seems to do our country injus-
tice. Our white citizens, who
have lived in this country long
enough to have fairly imbibed
its Influences and characteristics,
seem to be no more homicidal
than other civilized white folks.
The percentage of murder in
Massachusetts, Vermont, Rhode
Island and Connecticut is less
than it is in England. Where
the figures are high it seems to
be due either to unsettled condi-
tions in the newer States, to
large negro populations or to i'm
migration. There are about 81, =
600, 600 native-born white peo-
pie in the cOuntry-say, three
fourths of the population-to to
whom are credited 43 per cent.
of the murders. If all the popu-
lation was of this grade the num-
ber of homicides would be cut
down more than 40 per cent.
But nine or ten million negroes
(one-eighth of our population) do
nearly 40 per cent. of the mur-
ders, and about 100000 for
eign-bOrn persons are credited
with 163 per cent. of it. That is
to say (roughly) a quarter of
our population does considerably
more than half of the killing,
and neither the negroes nor the
fOreign-bOrn persons can be rat.
ed as products of our civilization
The Italians are unduly, ever
extravagantly, prone to homicide
both at home and here; and both
Italy and all other countries tina
our immigrants come from doubt
less send US a larger proportion
unruly or criminal persons among
their emigrants than is found il
their stay-at-home populations
8 Many of the best and some O
the worst of the Europeans com,
here. The Benders come iron
Germany; Mrs. Guinness fror
= Sweden. In the morning pape
E the persons arrested for the bonn
J explosion were Italians; the farm
u u hand VINO has confessed the mul
u der of three in New Jersey wa
Z born in Bohemia. New Yor
II State yields unsatisfactory sts
e stistics Of homicide, for the res
! son apparently that a large pre-
" portion of it's population is neWl
% % come from abroad.
- This is from Harper's Weekly
" " The striking statement that
" | class of citizens, numbering one
lOe le eighth of our population, comm
:, 40 per cent. of our murders,
le astonishing; and this class is tt
- American negro. Our older pc,
N le pie can remember the negro {
y most docile and reliable, seldol
le given to crime of any sort, ar
II very rarely murder cOmmitte
III III by him. What has brought abo1
Y this great change? This is
~ ~ question.worth studying, for tt
l 1l remedy cannot be found unt
se the cause is ascertained. 1t
&c le our duty to correct this evil,
as find the cause and remove it;ar
- - for the sake Of the safety of OF
ne ne white people this should be don
~ ~ Our writer's and statesmen shou
q q take this matter up in a bro;
IL IL and brave way, and continue
~ ~ it until a change is brougl
We We about. Punishment does n
01e 0 cure it. Crimes increase, d
III III spite coal mines, hangings, ct
he he 1t is a matter worthy of t
ng ng attention of a convention
ha 1o Southern Governors and state
lio men.