The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-01-08
THE BARNwELL BUTCHERY.
What Some Of the Northern Paper y
Say About II.

From The PhiiIieiphir North american. Rep.
,Whell her The lynched negroes were guilty as
charged or nOtuOcS not enter into he ques-
tlun. They were in custody Of the officer dCS-
isnttcd by the law. AMI as they were negroes,
their cnnvic:iDn ana execution were certain,
II guilty. There WAS therefore not the least
excuse Tor the lynching beyond the fact that
IL ninsicrcd tu the blnnui hirsty spirit OF
some two hundred men who shot the victims.
Such an act could not have happened in civ
ilized community. No sclErespecting man
could have Joined In Il statement eXcusing tic
nci. We have given the names of the apollo
gists solely for the purpose OF putting them on
record as apOlOgists for mob rule. and hence
more cowardly than the mob ITSELF
From The iveU York Press, Rep.
The people of South Carolina owe 1t to
themselves, their section and their country,
TO hunt dow II the Barnwell lynchers and hang
them, ns Chicago did the Anarcli"ts, for they
are as truly Anarchists ns the igLOrnut for
cign born bomb ti:rOwers.
From Me indianapolis Jou,1url. Rep.
Our people express great sympathy for the
people of Ireland who nre wrong"d by British
rule, and the utmost Indignation for the harsh
and unjust treatment which tile political cX-
lies OF Russia receive in Siberia at the hands
OF the russian Government, but no wrong
perpctrated upon Irish patriots or cruelty In
1lictcd upon Russian suspects compares with
the revolving brutality which the Barnwell
Outrage PRESENTS. 1t has had no parallel In
this country since the days when Indian
tiends murdered families on the frontier or
Scpoys in India massacred English women.
From The NclO York Star, Dem.
True to its traditions and the constant ex.
ample OF It's late lamented editor, the Ch0rles-
ton NctOS and Courier dcplores tho mob eXecn-
lions ut Barnwell, and calls for the punish.
ment Of those who have usurped the supreme
power of the State. However great the cX-
element or agsravation leading to such acts
OF Violence, they must Cause Infinitely more
harm than good to the communities In which
they occur and spread still greater evil in the
wlde circle over which example reaches. They
lunish keen and ready weapon to enemies
and cmbarrass the good offices OF friends.
From the Springfield, Mass, Republican,, Mug.
Governor Richardson has ordered out the
militia TO preserve order at Burnwell and a
com mittce of citizens have issued statement
which amounts to this: The assassination OF
several whites by blacks; the arrest and in
dictment of several blacks; the lynching o
said blacks by whites in consequence OF ~,
state OF indignant resentment among our peo.
pie that can better be Imagined than descrlb
ed" This committee should be put under
lock and key. This Justification Of murder
in town advanced fur enough to adopt some
OF the customs and ways of civilization.
From the Philadelphia Times, Dem.
True, five separate murders OF whites had
been lntcly committed in that community
ard IT is probable thatlhe murderers were ne.
"
butcher eight prisoners without even an at.
tempt to punish IDurderers In the Courts
The South can have no hope OF law and order
viii lc the ruling race meets lawlessness with
lawlesSneSs.
The Sheriff Failed to do his Duty.
From The Macon, Ca, Telegraph
When Sheriff Smith, OF Birmingham. Ala
cd the lynching Of n man accused of most
dreadful murder, he made himself a hero In
the eyes OF thousands OF people In all parts OF
this country. There were doubts of the ne.
cessity OF his action, but in spite of these
doubts the press and people hastencd 10 give
him evidence of their approval. They felt
that his was the first strong stand Of the law
against the mob, and, however deceptive ap
pearances may be. the people OF this country
are on the side of the law.
They admire the law officer who forgetfrl oil
popularity, blind 10 the claims OF personal
| friendship does his duty, 10 matter what the
consequences TO himself The officer in charge
of the eight negro prisoners at Barnwell, s. e..
had the same opportunity us Sheriff Smith
He failed to do bis duty, the men whose lives
depended on his courage and fidelity are dead
and great injury Is done to the whole South
A weapon is put In the hands OF her enemies
which they will not be slow 10 use in giving
her painful wound These negroes were per
haps gully OF a horrible crime and richly de-
served death. but the fact remains that the
community was responsible for their safety
until the question of their guilt or innocence
was decluen III court O1 law, anu that IL tal
cd lamenta6ly In Its duty. Itcoud SO fail on
| ly because Of Its own contempt or distrust o
law aS II Is administered. or because OF g
thirst for blood that could not be restrained.
We refuse to believe that ours Is blood
thirsty people, and we know they have not n
contempt OF law. But they do distrust Tho
execution OF the law. They lave no conf
dcncc that IL will he administered in such q
just and honest way that 1t will punish crime
and protect the community. The jailcr OF
Sheriff who permits men in his care to be
murdered without resistance on bis part Is nc
worse than the juries which have permitte,
murdererS in every community Of the South
to 80 unpunished IN contempt Of law and JUS
tice.
dit%racefII 80 irnredies rs that B:,rnweIl is tc
enforce the law without regard to persons. In
no other way can the respect for law and the
Courts he so stimulated that murderous mobs
Will be Impossible.