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

|
only for aggravated crimes has it been
pursued by tho whites in other cases,
On the other hand cases of criminal as
sault on negro women by whites have
been ofrare occurrence, in fact, tho case
OF this half-witted man at Central is the
only one we can call to mind. In this
respect this case of lynching differs from
others by whites, in its excusatory char
acter. The security of whito women,
travelling or dwelling unprotected, was
Ill constant jeopardy and demanded
prompt if not extra judicial acts of pro-
lection. The security of tho nogrc wO-
man has never in the same way been in
jeopardy.
gain, this case assumes Importance
III view OF the characteristics of the two
races as to citizenship and property.
The white race, as rulo, is intelligent,
moral ant habituatcd by training and
interest to obey law. Even in exception
al cases of violations of law, by taking
! the law into their own hands for the
| protection Of virtue from fiendish and
brutal outrage, the whites have moved
quietly as an organized citizenship, bent
| rather on tho prevention Of similar
property OF the country, their interest in
respect for them and their safety, oper-
ated to check any spirit Of general law
lessness, tending to anacchy. Handling
fro, they moved cautiously, checking its
spread to othOr than the object in view.
On the other hand, the black race, as
a rule, is Ignorant, immoral and often
dishonest. They are besides an impul-
8lVc people, who, under excitement, are
not subject to the control and direction
OF reason. Owning little property, DO
motive OF pecuniary interest operates to
check cXccSsCs, but rather to stimulate
them. There arc some striking eXcep-
tlons to the rule and we hope these may
increase.
From these facts, lynch law, always
dangerous and never dClcnsiblc in morals
or strict law, is in the hands Of tho
negro race widely different thing from
lynch law III the buds of the whites.
The lattor have always used it as a cor
rcctlvo and preventive of the highest and
most revolving crimes, and even then III
a decent or orderly way. Tho latter,
once adopting it with impunity, from
thor nature and training are likely to
use 1t Tor revenge or spirit Of reckless
Ia"lc8sness. While each race is entitled
to equal and impartial protection under
the law, Shll all cases of lynching. as
vlolatiOns Of law, should bo viewed in
connection with the persons concerned
and surrounding circumstances.
AS the Central victim of outrage died
from her injuries, the perpetrutor would
have been found guilty of murder aui
executed, if mentally and morally re-
sponslble. Ii Waldrop was the guilty
party, assuming him doll cGpax, he
suffered only The fate the law would have
allotted him, though in q cruel way. 1t
IS not the guilt or innocence of Waldrop
OF the lynchers that SO much concerns
society, as this new advance of lynch
law, both in the actors aud the surround
lug circumstances. There is far more in
1T than the simple fact that A. was
lynched for q nameless crime on 4.
1t Is an exception to past acts. Lynch
ing by whites tor this crime has not been
confined to negro perpetrators, but has
been inflicted on whites and blacks pro.
mlscuously. With the whites it has been
and IS based on the vindication Of virtue
from brutal violence. 1t is a principle
of preservation. On the othcr hand we
do not call to mind case where blacks
have lynched a black for such crimo on
thcir own race, though our court calen-
durs contain numbers Of charges for such
crimes. This departure by the blacks
from past precedent, AMI that. too, on a
white man Of known doubtful sanity,
suggests other motives than those here
totoro Gctuating white men. What WAS
the real motive, and what was the
prompting incentive in this view, be-
comes material and demands full inves-
tigntion, apart from the act in itself, as
al other like acts, being very high
violation of law. The investigation and
trial Of the parties charged may result in
the partial, if not entire suppression of
lynch law, to which end all citizens
anXiously look.