Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-11-11
The Assault on Booker Washington
To the Editor OF The Star:

The decision Of the court in New York
T. Washington. the foremost negro in
the world. has. caused the entire race to
put on sackcloth and ashes That this
! iliustrious American. the blameiessness
| of whose life embodies the Chri -t-like
spirit of meekness, humility and forgive
ness of spirit, should be stricken wn
with impunity fills the just and righteous
| mind with Indignation for the assailant
! and infinite pity for the victim
| President Taft, in his calm, judicial, pa
| triotic spirit, proclaims that he rever-
ences the process and personnel of the
| courts. Would to God that the courts
were so true to their function that every
American could share in this lofty senti-
ment. No negro in America feels that
he can get justice In any court where
the race feeling is involved Even the
President of the United States will. am
| sure. forgive the negro for not sharing
his feeling OF reverence for courts and
judges. whose august personality Is s.
exalted that they must not be called into
account for deeds done on the bench.
| 1 take 1t for granted that every rec soI-
| able man will regard the allegation that
the conduct of Mr. Washington VA
| provocative of the assault as absurd n
| the last degree That man who for
| we'll nigh a generation has gone in and
out among the American people. every
| the white light of public observation. and
who for so long has stood the test as
| being without moral spot or blemish,
/ should. Of q night, he TRANSFORMED into
an insane libertine Is too impossible to
| be entertained for a moment No candid
minded American believes that Booker T.
Washington addressed any woman on t G
streets of New York in terms # lus fu'
endearment. That he was peeki g
through a keyhole In a cheap apartment
/ house with lascivious intent Is so tnher-
emily silly that 1t would not even be re-
| peated against any other American OF
hne established character and re own.
! The fact that Dr. Washington failed to
prove the charge against his assailant
to the satisfaction of the court b tsre
whom 1t was tried ought not to reject
! upon his honor or prejudice his reputa-
ton. The fact that one judge out of
three held the assailant to be worthy of
punishment rcbs the decision Of judicial
conclusiveness. DR.. Washington was not
on trial before that court; nor should he
/ be before the American people.
Righteousness of practice. precept and
principle is the negros only hope. Tais
! is indeed the only salvation of the weak
among the strong. DR.. Washington has
preached and exemplified this in his life
That he should be stricken by law es
| hands. declared innocent by law. as an
| alleged transgressor OF the gospel. upon
| which hinges the mission OF his life and
the salvation of his race. is to me The
most tragic occurrence in our annals
| since the assassination of Abraham LIN
| coin And yet / feel sure that tie J gh-
minded American people will aba:e no
whit of their respect. support and ad-
souled man because of the humiliation
| which even. a blameless life may noe
| enable the most iilustrious negro to es-
| cape. KELLY MILLER.