The Semi-weekly leader., 1909-12-15
Difficulties in Law Enforcement.

SAOA@o eAAA1 NCWz@1 AeAtS - 49, At-A41>-N :
This is simply the happening Of the
expected, and it should not dis
courage. it should rather intensity,
efforts Of the officials to secure con-
Ivictions. This is a form of law
Iessness that admits Of neither
truce nor terms. Its suppression
and final eradication can only be
effected through constant and vig-
orous warfare. But that the enemy
will succumb to this in time, be
reduced to the minimum. or re-
stricted to the lowest and most ir-
epsonsible outcasts of society,
there can be no doubt. 1t only
needs the unrelaxing vigilance Of
the officials, supported by public
sentiment. And it is gratifying to
note that there is all appearance Of
this spirit of determination and
duty by our city and county Off
cials.
Official zeal is largely wasted,
however, it can not prevail against
the law breaking prevalence, unless
sustained and enforced by the
moral and material backing of the
good citizens Of the community.
Nor can any substantial enduring
reform be effected where there is
practiced discrimination in admin
istering the penalties Of law. The
deadiiest of all enemies to peace
and order is the officer. the jury or
the court, whereby justice is meas
ured out according to class or con-
dition. To the official who is
worthy Of his Office all crime looks
alike there is no color line in
criminals.
1t is the bane of the South that
the color code has carried its edict
Of discrimination into the admins.
tration Of the criminal law. The
appetite of the hoodlurn, the
trouble maker, is fed ON the feeling
of assurance that his white skin is
shield of protection, that it tenn
pers his punishment. Now, the
negro is by no means the chief
sufferer from this practice of dis
elimination. 1t is the common
welfare and good name of the
community that is most injured.
It is the sentiment and the interest
of the reputable. responsible, law
abiding citizens, which appeals to
the judges and juries to rise above
the vile and unworthy discrimina-
tion between the white and the
negro law breaker. Vicksburg
Herald.
The Herald has expressed a great
deal in the above that is timely
a great deal that should arrest the
thoughtful consideration of all
public officials charged with the
execution OF our penal laws, and of
all we'll meaning citizens of the
commonwealth. AS the Herald
well says, ut is the bane of the
South that the color code has car
ried its edict of discrimination
into the administration Of the
criminal law" It is one of the
alarming and evil incidents evolved
with the working out of the race
problem, that there has developed
a sort of recognized caste in the
administration Of our criminal laws;
whereby white criminals too often
enjoy immunity from the law or
escape with inadequate penalties,
while the negro law-breaker is
borne down upon without mercy or
made the scapegoat for the crimes
of both races.
1t ought to be that the white
man, being the superior and the
ruling race, should see that even
handed justice lsmeted out to white
and black criminals alike. Because
he is white man, the representa-
tive of a superior race and has had
better opportunities and advan-
tages than the negro, there is less
excuse for the white man becoming
4 criminal than the black; tnere-
fore, other circumstances being
equal. he is entitled to less consid-
sration than the ignorant and I'M
iriended black.
Much has happend and been said
% the discredit Of Franklin county.
but that Franklin justice Of the
peace who the other day sent
white man to jail in default Of a
800 bond for robbing and mistreat-
ng negro, had the conception Of
official duty that should character
ze all Of the public functionarles
if Mississippi from Governor to
Not many years ago young
legro was convicted and sentenced
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