The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1888-01-26

The opinions of the press, in different
parts of the State, on this startling occur
renee, differ widely. 1t is generally con-
coded that the act is the natural result
OF q precedent established by the whites
in like cases Of offence. AS conse-
quence somo condemn the act and oil
acts of lynohing in the abstract Others,
winking at such summary vengeance,
when prompted by pure and high pur-
pose to protect virtuous women from
violence worso than death, favor a
thorough investigation in this case as 20
whether this act was the outcome of an
outraged sentiment or the offspring of
prejudice and imitation. Others take
the bold ground that ii deceased was
guilty of the crime with which he was
accused, he deserved tho fate he met,
and the perpetrators deserve commonda-
tion rather than ccnsuro. We find others,
who neither in terms approving nor con
demning the lynchipg, find in tic occur
renee pregnant tCXt.fOr discOursiug on
the lneiliciency OF tho administration Of
the criminal law by our courts and
juries.
No law abiding citizen will deny but
lynch law is wrong III itself and tlanger-
Gus to society. While this is true, there
are crimes SO revolving to mans moral
nature, so destructive to society, so
awful IN their consequences to individu-
als and by sympathy to communities,
that neither human nor divine law ever
has or ever can stay the hand Of vcnge-
anco i'll their punishment. OF these
crimes tendish and brutal violence to
respectable women is the highest, and
we hardly think, iii such eases, any
earthly power could stay tho uvongiug
hand Of on outraged community. The
certainty of the conviction ana punish
ment of the guilty party canuot do this,
and the divine command, thou shalt not
kill. has proved equally powcreSS.
Respect Tor woman, pride in her Gle
vation and protection is a striking Char
acterlStlc OF Angl 10 Saxon civilization and
the browning glory Of Christian progress.
Summary punishment Of brute, black
or white, who assaults q pure woman,
we cannot condemn, and yet we cannot
deny it is dangerous precedent not
only tending to abuse for the commits
sion OF the namclcsg crimO charged
against deceased, bus as growing and eX-
tending TO less horrible crimes, until no
limit being fixed, the written law be-
comes dead letter, and for it the ,X-
cited and partially informed opinion Of u
mob Is substituted. In some cases the
highest good OF society, its preservation
and the protection of the muthers and
daughters OF our State, will constitute an
acceptable excuse in the public mind for
lynching.
While we hold this, we think every
case Of lynchinG should be thoroughly
investigated and on the trial of parties
charged with it, we feel sure our iurics
would convict or aCquit on their honest
judgment from the tactS, whether the
lynchlng was prompted by the single
motive OF Vindicating virtue and pro-
tecting society, or by spirit of race re-
Venge and imitation.
Even in the most cXcusnOlo form the
enforcement OF lynch law is playing with
fire, and II ever justified to tho actors
the justification shOnld be based on the
honest conviction that it il the best, the
safest and the highest preventive Of an
lrrcparn''2 wrong and IL virtual necessity
to the preservation Of society.
In the abstrnct, lynch law meets our
and public condemnation, but circum-
stances may exist, such as tho character
OF tho asSallant and ussailed, the nature
apfi extent of the injury, which may eX-
cuse II not justify it. How do they stand
in the Central lynching?
Waldrop is reported as being q half
wltted person, by some as person men
tally irresponsible. This should in his
case have stayed summary puuishmcn.
1t is further stated by some that his
guilt was matter Of doubt, and that he
denied it to the last This should have
led to inquiry i'll any case before the
death penalty was enforced. And here
lies the great danger Ill lynch law, that
upon excitement, growing out Of an ag.
gfaVated crime, passion uSurps reason
and men act without proper inquiry as
to the CRIME and the guilt Of the party
charged.
Again, in such cases the standing of
the assailod should b" considered. alias
the negro race established by their lille
and conduct that high moral character,
that reputation for virtue which makes
such wrong to their race irrcpaublc,
the life OF the victim Il living death? We
MAINTAIN they h&Vo not They marry
and lHGermarry with ilttlC regard to pust
chastity and neither their education gOl
habits lead them to value the reputation
OF Their women, as do the whites. We
do not deny but every citizen, lulle and
female, white and black, are entitled lC
and should receive equal and unyarfiaI
protection under tho raw, but we deny,
or strongly doubt whether Il criminal as,
sault on q black woman can or should,
under the character Of the race, arouse
that just feeling OF Indignation, thot firm
and noble resolve, coupled with genuine
excitement, which o like assault on Il
white woman by black or white man
necessarily does from habit and educa.
ton, and which alone, if any excuse be
allowed, stands rs an excuse tor past acts
of lynch law by white men. Both races
have their recourse for protection to tho
law and both here, we think, would get
justice. Here both should seek it, but
with the whites there is am innutcus well
as habitunl purpose to vinGrlto purity
and preserve society at all hazards. They
cannot await the slow process of the
courts. Is the negro jnSLgatcd by tn,
same motive? Has he by habit the sam,
inborn principles and purposes? Lucf
reader must answer for himself.
Again, tho decentralization Of the negro
from sudden emancipation and elevation
to citizenship and from political powe,
from 1868 had made him arrogant, ever
Il nIAs L., -