Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1919-08-30
AN OUTRAGEOUS ASSAULT.

The beating of Mr.. John II. Shil
lady of New York in front of the no.
, tel in which he was stopping at. Aus
tin, Texas is one OF the most remark
able exhibitions of brutality ever
made in 4 southern city. 1t is all the
more surprising in that this was
done in the capital of the Lone Star
State, where law and order or ratl-
or scmblancc Of it was to have been
expected. Mr.. Shillady evidently
made the mistake in believing that i'll
! Texas northern white man has any
rights, when he takes up the cause
of the southern Negro that white
man is bound to respect.
I The fact that Il Texas judge was
one of the law breakers makes the
affair all the more serious. These
kind of judges have been trying col
ored people in Texas and other south
crn States for more than fifty years
Evidently Mr.. Shillady made the mis-.
take of thinking that Hon. Woodrow
Wilson is President of the United
State in Texas, when as q matter Of
fact, Governor Hobby is not only the
Chief Executive OF Texas, but Of the
United States so far as Texas is con
as being of the opinion that John II.
Shillady got his deserts.
President Woodrow Wilson has been
trying TO make the world safe for
democracy but he has evidently been
unable to make the State Of Texas
safe for Mr.. Shillady. We are Of the
opinion that the worry able Secretary
Of the National Association for tho
Advancement of Colorcd People is
lucky i'll having escaped from the
Lone Star State with his life. Just
why they did not string him up to
lamp post will always be mystery
to us. Thousands Of culorcd men
have suffered death for minor offens.
es and they charged him with III
citing Negroes and with advocating
social equality, whatever the latter
charge may mean.
We think we have witnessed tho
end Of the affair, so far rs any pun
ishment being melted to tho assailants
Of Mr.. Shillady is concerned. Any
one Of them could be elected to any
office within the gift of the Texans.
To beat up a Negro-loving Yankee, Is
popular pastime and Mr.. Shirlady
came out less than second best III tho
encounter. On the other hand this
outrageous attack will "fire the
North" or that portion Of it that has
been cordially and enthusiastically
supporting Secretary Shillady and his
cause. The time will yet come, when
free speech will be tolerated in all
parts of this country.
This generation may be dead, but
right principles will be yet triumph,
ant anu the declarations in the Con.
stitution Of the United States and the
Bill Of Rights of Virginia will be
observed in all parts of this land. We
would advise the energetic Secretary
to remain in the North until it shall
be safe to indulge in free speech. In
the Southland. Certainly no state in
the Union is moro unciviliZed than
Texas and we are somewhat surpris
ed that every educated person in tho
-,,,t tntn Il
;. 1t may be we'll to remark that 9
native born Texan of high standing
can indulge in the use of language
stronger and palmer than colorc(
man from the North or a white one
from that same section either. Many
Of our representative men have takcI
chances and defended themselves
against all corners and when it came
to the worst have fought to the las
ditch and gone shouting home t.
glory" We regret to learn of the on
rageous conduct in this instance ant
we shall watch with much interes
the result Of the struggle and thu
demand for the punishment Of tn,
offenders.
Is there any law to guarantee pre-
lection to tho citizens Of one State
while sojourning within the con
fines or boundaries of Another State
Let the constitutional lawyers answer
this question and submit. their ar
swcrs to the counsel Of the Nationa
Association for the Advancement Of
Colored People