Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-01-22
BLEASE OPENLY
VAUNTS HATRED
Of NEGROES
South Carolina Governor Charac-
terizes Blacks "0n Order of
Lower Animals"

COLUMBIA, S. c., Jan. 22.-Why
governor Cole l.. Blease granted par
dons paroles and combinations Of
sentence to hundreds of convicts last
wear is set forth in a message trans
United TO the Legislature to-day. 1t
is printed book of 1873 pages. Since
assuming office, three years ago, Gov
ernor Blease has extended clemency
in qS2 cases.
The striking feature of the re-
mort is the bold manner in which he
expresses his opinion of negroes, as
being ION the order of lower ami
mails"
The negro race" he asserts, "has
absolutely no standard of morality.
They are, in that respect. a class by
themselves, as marital infidelity
seems to be their most favorite pas
time If every negro in this State
that is guilty of bigamy or marital
infdelity is brought up and con-
victed, labor will be much scarcer
than it is and many acres that are
now cultivated will be idle
Commends Negro Whippers.
In reporting that he had granted
with much pleasure" full pardons to
three white men convicted of assault
and battery on two negroes, Govern
or Blease states that the blacks had
been engaging in dirty and SANDER
Gus talk and a party of white men
took these two negroes to the woods
and gave them what they deserved
N1-h iTAfait inc
These white gentlemen" the Gov
ernor says, did exactly right"
In telling of parole granted to
sam Gaskins, negro convicted of
manslaughter, Governor Blease says:
This negro, being engaged to a ne
gro girl, called to see her, and IN
fooing with a pistol it went off and
killed her. 1t seems to have been i
very sad accident; however, after a
second thought, possibly it was for
the good of humanity, for had they
married no doubt they would have
brought forth more negroes to the flu
ture detriment of the State"
Likens Negro to Mule.
Commenting on his action in COM
muting the sentence of Stake Morris,
a negro murderer, from death to life
Imprisonment, the Governor says:
llllS uGleuOdDl was COuNlCltu Vi
killing another negro. | am naturally
against electrocuting or hanging one
negro for killing another, because, if
man had two fine mules running
loose in a lot and one went mad and
kicked and killed the other, he GER
tainly would not take his gun and
shoot the other mule, but would take
that mule and work it; therefore,
believe that when one negro kills
another he should be put in the pen
itentiary and made to work for the
State"
Notwithstanding the contemptuous
attitude which he assumes toward ne
groes is class, Governor Blease in
the message expresses compassion for
Individual negroes who he says have
been i'll treated in the penitentiary
and frequently gives as a reason for
Iberating black convicts that they
are white mems negroes"
Cites Prison Cruelty.
In telling of a parole granted to
Simeon Ellis, a negro murderer Gov
ernor Blease submits letters to the
effect that the negro was cruelty tor
tured by the penitentiary authorities
for speaking to the Governor one day
without the guards permission. MI
uerOus other cases of alleged cruelty
TO prisoners are cited by Governor
Biease in excuse of his extension of
ClemenCy
one reason given for the paroling of
j. Allen Emmerson. murderer, is
mat the ConVict'S sisters health has
been broken by the grief caused by
his Imprisonment.
Not infrequently the Governor in
nus report speaks scornfully or angrily
OF the prosecutors of the convic,s
whom he has released.
In granting clemency to Bud Viii
us a white man convicted on the evil
oence of private detectives of Violat-
ing the liquor laws, Governor Blease
aercely denounces private detectives.