Democratic Sentinel, Volume 8, Number 30, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 August 1884 — Prime Reading For The Colored Voter. [ARTICLE]

Prime Reading For The Colored Voter.

“There was a law once in force Id Illinois to the effect that any person caught in the act of giving aid or as** sistanee to any colored man, woman or child, shook) be arrested, and. up» on proof of the charge, should be put in prison for two years. I vas prac tlcinglaw at that time in an Illinois town, where a little corored lad came to my house and said: ‘Please, mister , won’t you give me something to eat? I haven’t had anything to eat in two days.’ I called my wire and told her to get a big slice of bread and butter it all over, and ge: some meat. •Would it not be better,’ she said, *t<i have the boy come in the bouse, as everybody seems to be watching us? I said, ‘No, I wart thiv people to see that I am not afraid to give and sustain any of God’s poor unfortunates.' The Grand Jury was in session at the time, and an indictment was soon found against me for giving sustenance to a negro. I was accordingly arrested and brought before the eooit, and plead guilty to the charge, and stated in open court that I would do so again, and whenever T found the Jaws of man interfering with the laws of God I won la violate the hu man law every time. The testimony giveD had the desired eff«c\ and the Court ■ announced to the packed court-house that he found ihe prisoner at the bar ‘Not guilty of the charge,’ and I was set free. The ma who was the prime mover and factor in this bill was none other than John A. Logan, the nominee for Vice President of the Republican party,” —Governor St. John’s recent speech.