Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-01-30
SOUTHERN BARBARISM.
Good Advice That VIII of Course Be Ut
terly Disregarded.

Good Advice That VIII of Course Be Ut
terly Disregarded.
Laws are powerless either to prevent
the commission of crime or to punish
criminals unless public sentiment for
bids the one and commands the other.
Where there is little regard for human
life, and we fear this is the case in many
portions of our country, the courts are
often to blame for not hanging those
who Stay their fellow-men.
Is it not a fact that it is almost i'm
possible to convict man of the crime
OF murder who has any social position
or means to defend himself?
This is true as to white men who kill
their equals. If negro kills a white
man he is sure either to be lynched or
hung. But if white man Stays a
negro he is in no danger of being
lynched, and as to his being hung for
his crime there is not much probability.
No case of the kind on record.
This sad and deplorable condition of
affairs must be changed. Society must
institute moral.reforms and protect its
members against the passions of men
rho do not regard human life and who
have neither fear nor respect for the
laws. The men who have no considera-
ton for the safety and well-being of
the people and community in which
they live should be handled and pun
ished by the strong arm of the law
whenever they violate it.
The lawless class must be made to
fear and respect the law by it's rigorous
enforcement.
This will be done by our courts when
public opinion demands it and not be-
fore.
Southern white men who have intelli-
gence and courage, who know their
rights and responsibilities to God and
their country, must assert themselves in
every community all over this fair land
and put an end to lawlessness wherever
its hydrs-head appears.
There is not the shadow of preteXt
for the cowardly resort to mob law in
any Southern State from Virginia to
Texas or from the Ohio river to the At
lantic. The whole country is under the
absolute and undisputed control Of the
white people.
Then in the name Of all that is good
md holy, and in the name Of Wanted
civilization, in the name of the God who
made us, if we believe in His redemption
and daily benevolence let the people
everywhere arouse themselves and
create healthy public sentiment that
will suppress lawlessness and Danish
from our States the violence and bar
barity of the cruel mob.
Murder is murder in the sight of God,
whether the victim is white or black
This is our belief in the moral order,
and it should be the visible and material
law of our natural relations in society,"
Let the pulpit and the press and every
good influence in the South speak out
against lawlessness and violence. Then
public opinion will abolish the coward
ice and brutality of the mob and estab-
lish the reign of law and order through
the tribunal of the courts.
Let US have patience and forbearance
with the negro. He is free man and a
citizen. In the eyes of the law he is en-
titled to equal and exact justice. Let it
be the highest evidence of our civiliza-
ton that we treat him with kindness
and justice. that we treat him as a man
and as citizen.
The colored man is peaceable and well
disposed. He is defenseless as against
outrages, and it is the highest duty of
our civilization to encourage him in all
good works and to protect him against
wrong.
Public opinion in the South and not
National legislation of outside inter
ference is the powerful lever that will
be his best defender and surest protect
or against private imposition and mob
violence.
The white people of the South owe it
rs a solemn duty to their humanity and
their civilization, to their God and their
country, to protect him from imposition
and violence, and to see to it that he is
justly and honestly dealt with in all the
relations of life.
Let us discharge our full duty to the
colored man, not because we are COM
PEELED by legislation to do it, but be-
cause of our common humanity and
higher civilization, and because of that
Divine law which commands US to pro-
tect and defend all of Gods creatures
from injustice, oppression and outrage.
Augusta (Ga) Chronicle.