Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1917-07-07
THE EAST ST. LOUIS MASSACRE


ton Of the American Declaration of
Independence is without a parallel in
the history Of this country. On the
afternoon Of July 2, 1917, tho bloody
work began and the estimate is that
from one hundred to three hundred
colored people persisted, many of
them being burned to death by mob
of white men and women, who coolly
witnessed their dying agonies and in
many instances added to their mis-
cries. The account paralyzes tho
comprehension of the thoughtful and
reflects upon the civilization in this
country
East St. Louis is in Illinois, but
right across the Mississippi Rivor Is
St. Louis, Mo. One is virtually a
part Of the other. In Democratic
Missouri, the colored people were
being protected, while in Republican
Illinois, they we're being ignominious
ly slaughtered.
Probably many Missourians took a
part in the massacre, but the I'LL.
noisans were in the National Guard
deputized to defend these helpless
American citizens. Talk about Bel
GUM, what chapter in its history
will surpass in horror the plain re-
cital Of the Associated Press cores
pendent as he tells the story?
The American sense Of justice has
become brutalized. These colored
people were not OF the worthless type.
They did not belong to the hoodlum
elements. They were not crap
shooters, gamblers and the proprie-
tors OF "blind tigers" They were
Of the Industrious sort. Men were
there, who had brought with them
their f&f3ilies, living together in law
full wedlock and the little crying
urchins with fire behind them and a
mob Of white men and women In
front Of them, with prayers upon
their lips for mercy and pleas for
help and safety, died in the most re-
voting manner and III the most
painful agony.
The crime surpasses human under
standing. Where was the Governor
OF Illinois, then? Certainly, he was
in telephone communication with the
authorities at East st. Louis. We
know where he Is now, but death has
taken place. The people are being
laid away lii their graves and silence
reigns. Where was the Eighth ILL.,
nois Regiment? What service was
that crack regiment rendering In Chi
cago, when their people were being
slaughtered in East st. Louis,
Illinois? We have radical opinions
as to the remedy for evils Of this
character. Investigations that fol-
low do little or no good. The punish
ment should be meted at the time of
the outbreak.
After nearly three hundred colored
people have been killed, the members
OF the National Guard are given or
ders to shoot to kill. The white mob
did this before the orders were given
to the soldiers of Illinois and the
mute faces, the mangled bodies, the
little babes cremated in burning
buildings tell the whole story. 1t is
a grucsome story and its reality adds
to the horrors Of the crime committed.
1t seems to us that the troops sent
abroad are needed here. Colored
men have recently returned from
Mexico, where they distinguished
themselves and thousands have Of
fercd their lives to the service Of
their country, which country does not
move to protect them until scores OF
them have been ANONYMOUSLY tor
tured and butchered.
1t will not do, gentlemen. This
crime is too heinous for it to be
passed by with an exclamation
Of horror or with a few lines
of condemnation. There is an
electric chair in the State of
Illinois and 1t should be used ener.
getically and fearlessly until every
white man and white woman guilty
Of completely In this merciless mas
sacre have been made to pay the
penalty of this heinous exercise OF
depravity which has staggered hui
manity. Citizens, regardless Of color
should make the demand that this
course be followed and every effort
should be made to make this "crime
of the century" so odious that a re
petition of it in this country again
will be impossible.
These are troublous times and col
ored men might as we'll make up their