Evening journal., 1913-02-26
DENOUNCEs Jim crow LEGIS-
LATI0N.

To the Editor OF THE EVENING
JOURNAL:
Sir Before Representative Owens
"Jim Grow" car bill becomes law
in our state, desire as Delawar-
can, born in the city Of Wilmington
and still a resident thereof to raise
my voice in protest against this act
OF cruelty aimed to check tho pro
gress of the colored people Of Della
ware.
Just fifty years ago President Abb
raham Lincoln, the man whom the
American people through their Con-
gress now in session at Washing
ton, ID. c., have honored as they have
no other American, issued that inn
mortal proclamation which unshack-
led the weak and illiterate slaves and
their posterity forever. With the
Magma Charta, and The Declaration
of Independence, the Emancipation
Proclamation will live as long as
men love liberty.
The negro race from four millions
in 1860 to ten millions in 1913 has
only tried TO accomplish what was
expected OF it from its emancipators.
Our illiteracy after the war was per-
feet in that II was 100 per cent. and
then some To-day, by our contact
with the white man, we have been
able to show that SO negroes out OF
every one hundred can read, write
and speak the English language we
started out from slavery with moth
ing of this worlds goods, and to-day
by our contact with the white man
and enjoying the same freedoA, we
are paying taxes on one billion four
hundred millions OF property in As
States. We may not have done as
much as we should in this period, as
is the claim made by our enemies
but / think that an impartial Judge
will at least encourage us to try
and repeat in the next fifty years
rather than discourage us with such
laws and sentiment
The Legislature of our state can
not afford to pass a law that seeks
to array one class of citizens against
another. If the State would endure
it must throw its strong arm around
the weak and help Them to become
strong. The negroes Of Delaware ask
only Justice. not sympathy. A mans
chance only. that's all. There is law
enough in our State to punish every
negro who violates it, and every
seif-respecting negro demands it,
"jim Grow" laws are no deterrent to
criminals. Punishment. swift and
sure under the laws, is the only
panacea.
One Of the cardinal principles OF
Anglo-Saxon law is, that it is bet
ter that 999 guilty men should &c
scott free thL. that one illoceni
man should be punished Those
negroes i'm our state who are at
tempting to support the State by edu-
eating their children and buying
property, surely do not deserve the
same treatment that the State should
accord the criminal classes. Yet
this "Jim Grow" legislation seeks stc
reward all alike. AS the Great Judge
will reward us hereafter for whal
we have done individually, we arc
likewise desirous that our reward
here from our fellowmen shall be the
same VIII the liberty-loving white
I friends OF the negro i'm Delaware re
main silent while this damnabl'
viper receives life through legislativ,
enactment? This legislation. intend
cd to suppress the negro. will In turr
ieopardize the liberties of the white
race A public sentiment that viii
encourage the enactment of sucl
laws as to discriminate between tw,
citizens OF the same State. because
ono is black and the other white. vii
soon see it's reflex action in a dis
elimination between two white citi
zens Of the same State. according Il
a red-haired man the liberties denie'
the black-haired white man. whicl
would be just as logical as sayini
that color Of hair and skin max
superiority.
II Representatives Owens is desir
Gus of doing a public service and 4
( free from any sinister motive. le
him submit his bill TO the people a
the Referendum" will surely com
out Of this legislature. I am not per
suaded that the people OF Delawar
will discourage the negro by sue
laws. II the State Legislature wishe
10 help the negro who. most of al
needs the strong arm Of the State, le
Il adopt a measure that will vine on
Of our state every saloon and bar
room and at the same time enact law
that will forbid the traffic Of liauo
In the boundaries OF the State.
Yours truly.
JEFFERSON s. COAGF.
/ N AerI -N-f.u-cN n a. TToI, o. fof'