The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-09-03
Let the Law Take It's Course.

Let the Law Take It's Course.
The newspapers have lately recorded
good many instances of lynch law in differ
ent parts OF the country. The MORNING
News has always condemned lynch law. 1t
is no law at all, but violation of law, and
not infrequently innocent persons are its
victims. 1t serves to increase crime, by en-
couraging the idea that men may take the
law into their own hands. the tendency
being to extend it to cases which are in 10
way exceptional
1t Will be time enough to think of ignor-
ing the courts when it becomes certain that
they do not protect the public. In this
state no such condition of affairs exists. We
have fearless and just judges. and it would
be difficult to call to mind case, seemingly
justifyipg mob law, in which the law was
not vindicated by the court.
If there ever was a crime in this state
which appeared to call for lynch law, it was
that of Humphries, of Baldwin county, who
killed two young ladies, one of them his
siSter-in-law. few years ago. Everything
pointed to him as the murderer, and
an infatuated mob would have hanged
him but for the interference of the father
of one of the murdered girls Gentle
men," he said-and the solemnity of the oc-
casion lent eloquence to his plain words
Gentlemen, my daughter has been muir
dered, and circumstances point to this man
as the murderer. But we don't know
whether he is or not, and we won't know
unless he should confess, or until he is tried.
For Gods sake, gentlemen, don't let's do
anything that we would regret afterward
Don't let's have possibly Innocent blood on
our hands" HUMPHREYS was tried, con-
victed and hanged. and the reputation of
the people of Baldwin county as law-abiding
citizens has ever sincs been enhanced.
There is that other case of Moore, in Ma
con. Circumstances seemed to indicate that
he had committed heinous crime against
society. \ mob dragged him out of all and
hanged him, even while it was being rep
resented to them that if they would wait,
Mocre's innocence would be established.
But they would not listen, and his inno-
cence was established after he had been
hanged. Bbb county is ashamed to-day of
the action taken in that case, and she will
be for many day. When Voolfolk after
ward committed the most horrible crime
known in the history of the state, however.
| and the law was allowed to take its course,
Bib county redeemed as far as possible her
reputation as law abiding community.
The grangcrs who for two or three
days last week enjoyed a picnic at Will
Jams Grove, Pa, fiDally secured the
presence of presidential candidate. Mrs.
Belva Lockwood put in an appearance
there Thursday and made stirring speech
| She said the negro was emancipated to
perpetuate the dominancy of a party,
rather than as an act of justice. She wanted
| less protection for women, SO that they
could go out into the world and enter into
competition with men, and more protection
| for the 'infant industries" so that they
might be made 10 shun the saloon, cigar
cites and iashy literature She declared
her opposition TO Canadian retaliation, as
it might lead to war. and took strong
grounds for civil service reform. When
she ceased speaking, she was overwhelmed
with the congratulations of the grangers,
| none of whom will vote for her.
The Indianapolis Journal, which is run
by john G. New & Co., offered a reward of
81, 900 to any one who would substantiate
the charges that Gen. Harrison said dollar
a day was enough for workingmen, and
that if he had been governor of Indiana
during a certain strike, he would have
forced the strikers back to work. or shot
them down. Edward f. Could Knight
of Labor, living in Indianapolis, will de-
mand that the money be handed over to
HIM. He has collected statements from
fifteen men who say they heard Gen Har-
rison make the remarks in question. Come,
fork over the reward, Johnny.
|
Mr.. Blaine is still speaking in Maine.
although his remarks are not flashed over
the country now unless he says something
Of unusual interest or Importance. His
statement at Waterville the other day, that
Mr.. Cleveland's fisheries message was in-
tended TO divert attention from the tariff
issue, was evidently not classed important
or int esting. 1t weat under the head of
buucombe. Why should the President de-
sire to divert attention from the TARIFF His
tariff reform message was a trump card for
the democrats and his fisheries message is
another Brother Blaine is very well aware
] OF this.