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

COLUMBIA, S. c., Jan. 22.-Why
IONS paroles and combinations Of
.sutence to hundreds of convicts last
wear is set forth in a message trans
ritted to the Legislature to-day. 1t
f., printed book of 1913 pages. Since
s,suming office, three years ago, Gov
eroor Blease has extended clemency
in qS2 cases.
The striking feature of the re-
port 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
lime If every negro in this State
mat is guilty of bigamy or marital
infidelity is brought up and con-
yicted, labor will be much scarcer
than it is and many acres that are
now cultivated Will De lule.
commends Negro Whippers.
In reporting that he had granted
with much pleasure" full pardons TO
three white men convicted of assault
ana 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
ana gave them what they deserved
a genuine, first-class whipping
These white gentlemen" the Gov
trnor says, did exactly right"
In telling of a 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 d
very sad accident; however. after =
second thought, possibly 1t was for
the good of humanity, for had they
married no doubt they would have
brought forth more negroes to the fu
Jure detriment of the State"
Lkens Negro to Mule.
Commenting on his action in COM
nuting the sentence of Stake Morris,
a negro murderer, from death to life
Imprisonment, the Governor says:
This defendant was convicted of
Ltling another negro. | am naturally
against electrocuting or hanging one
negro for killing another, because, if
man had two fine mules running
oose ia 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
i
believe that when one negro kills
another he should be put in the pen
Tertiary and made to work for the
State"
Notwithstanding the contemptuous
attitude which he assumes toward ne
sroes as a 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 reason for
liberating black convicts that they
are white mems negroes"
Cites Prison Cruelty.
In telling of parole granted to
simeon Ellis, negro murderer, Gov
ernor BleaSe submits letters to the
eject that the negro was cruelty tor
lured by the penitentiary authorities
for speaking to the Governor one day
without the guards permission. Nj
merous other cases of alleged cruelty
10 prisoners are cited by Governor
Blease in excuse of his extension of
clemency.
One reason given for the paroling of
j., Allen Emmerson murderer, is
mat the convicts sisters health has
been broken by the grief caused by
his Imprisonment.
Not infrequently the Governor in
his report speaks scornfully or angrily
OF the prosecutors of the convicts
whom he has released.
In granting clemency to Bud Will
S, white man convicted on the evil
dence of private detectives of violat
ing the liquor laws, Governor Blease
hereby denounces private detectives.