Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1911-02-10
JUDGE GRACE
 IS THANKED Isaac Fisher, Leader of Ne gro Race in Pine Bluff, Writes Appreciation. BEAUTIFUL SPIRIT Judge Grace's Plea for the UnfOrtu- nate Negro Boys and Girls
 Prompted it.
SPIRIT


i The following letter was yesterday addressed to Judge A. B. Grace, cir cult judge of the Eleventh Judicial District, by Isaac Fisher, negro and principal of the Branch Normal Col lege, colored, Of this city. it is self explanatory and is evidence of the sincere appreciation of a liberal minded negro of liberal sentiments expressed by learned and fair mind ed jurist It follows:
 Judge A. B. Grace,
 The Eleventh Judicial District, Pine Bluff, Ark,
 Your Honor:-I have just read your letter to. GOve1nor Donaghey, advocating the establishment of re- i form school for youthful negroes who violate the laws of the state, to the end that they may not, by associating with more hardened crimanls, become confirmed in their lawlesss tenden- cies, but have, rather, a chance to re- form.
 hold no brief for the negro crim- inal because he is a negro; but at the same time, l am too intensely human not to feel grateful for the note of broad sympathy which you sounded for the ignorant and unfortunate" Of my race, whose offenses are often be- fore the courts of the state.
 And, so, without beating about the bush, want to say that the spirit which prompted you to speak for us as we could not speak for ourselves was fine It was worthy of the best sentiments of the chivalric South which your sweetest singers have deathlessly perpetuated in the literature of Dixie" It was the [ spirit of the white south in it's finest moments; and for the time, you were it's spokesman. If I know anything about the finer idealism of your race in the south-that to Which my race must look for sympathy and under standing-l believe that your people are proud that it was given to you to let the negroes of the state get d glimpse of the abiding tenderness i'll
 the heart of true southern white gentleman.
 Nn i'm A
 it could have stated the case better
 than you have done; and when you
 pleaded tor our unfortunate violators
 of the law you must have looked far
 beyond the statutes of this world to that maxim of Holy Writ which reads:
 I've then that are strong ought to
 bear the infirmities of the weak It may seem that I attach too much
 importance to this matter. think
 not It requires no special qualities. either of mind or heart, to indict, pitilessly. my race for it's shortcom- ings; but 8 man of your race must climb away above common feelings of , faclal DlttelTSSS to De dDle ,o So o"'
 of his way to plead for that which will make for the good of my race, even though the boon prayed for Will 2 work benefits for the civic health of s the whole Commonwealth. The test
 of the gentility of mans heart is
 not his attitude toward thos ein his own social circles, but consists in the : treatment he accords those who are . weaker than himself and who cannot e strike or pay back. Judged by this standard, you show to splendid ad-
 vantage. \and yet you are but type of the Southern statesman to be fount throughout the south in larger mum d bers than we suspect.
 " Therefore, hope you will accap 4 my thanks for your manly letter aot
 Christian spirit-a spirit which
 please God. will never die in th' 5 South. And I hope that when vol e stand finally before the Judge in Et
 ernity's Court of Last Resort, vol
 will hear for your reward the com d forting words: "Iaasmuch as ye have I done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it untt