Omaha daily bee., 1892-01-10
PROTEST FROM EGYPT.

StO:y of the LynclIing of Coe Reaches the
Land OF the Pharao!s.
ALEXANDRIA, Egypt, Dec. IL, lS0l.-To the
Editor of The BEE: | have just read in my
regular daily paper the "Phare d'Alexan-
drie, an account of the lynching OF a negro
at Omaha. The story, which | ~inclose, may
be incorrect, but, at any rate, it will serve as
the text Of a sermon, which, as an American
citizen resident IN Egypt, | should like to
preach through your columns to my more
fortunate countrymen who reside at home.
Scarcely Il week passes without the appear
ance OF some similar piece of news from the
United States in the European and other for
eign press. Usually 1T is a specimen of
ynch law. Now and then for variety we
are treated 10 a case of shooting at sight
with revolvers. Our politics have small in
terest for foreigners, and American news is
generally voted dull; the result is that these
reports of murder are eagerly copied for the
element of spice which they give TO our
everyday history. They are read by every
body; by the American abroad with a feel
ing OF intense shame; by the foreigner with
a sense of surprise at the state of our civiliza-
ton. When my neighbors here speak to me
on the subject ! say that such acts are to be
expected i'll Il new country, but in my heart
of hearts | know that that is no excuse, for
they do not occur in Australia or New Xea-
land, and they do happen in parts of the
United States which have been settled over
200 years.
Now, what does the prevalence of such
crimes necessarily prove! One, at least, of
three thiugs-CD Either our laws are so bad
that they have to be supplemented by private
individuals, or (2) our jurles are corrupt and
refuse to enforce the law, or 81 our people
are so bloodthlrsty that they are un willing
to leave the execution of capital punishment
to the regular officials. The foreigner, who
is none too logical, makes all three deduc-
tions. Again and again have | read articles
in European journals speaking in this con-
nection of the total failure OF our institutions,
of the low state of eur civilization and of the
homlcidal Instincts of our people as a race.
Mr., Joseph Neushaffer and his compan-
ions, who are represented i'll the enclosed
article as having broken into the Jail and
killed tho negro, doubtless thought that they
were performing an act of good citizenship.
Did they also consider that they were doing
their best to cast their country into dlsrepute
before the entire world, and to bring a blush
to the cheeks of thousands of their fellow
citizens abroad The fact is that they were
committing a crime unknown in any other
civilized country on the globe, and which
would not be tolerated for a moment here in
Egypt, ana at the same time proclaiming to
all mankind that barbarism car find a new
lease of life in the great republic OF the west.
These are harsh words, but they cannot be
made harsh enough. 1t is time that we
should rise in our might and put an end to
that class of murders, which in many parts
of the land arc rather favored than con-
demned A national society with such an OBJ
iect in view would find a NOBLE work before
il, first in Kidding us of Judge Lynch, aud
then in inaugurnting Il crusade against the
carrying of revolvers. BY such an organiza-
ton public opinion could be instructed and
changed and occasionally at least the muir
derers brought to condign punishment. 1t is
in the hope that the attention of some of our
active and philanthropic people may be
turned to the question that l have written
these lines. Yours, etc,
ERNEST fl. CRosRY.
MIR. Crosby, VINO writes the above, is one
of the judges of tho international tribunal of
IInVDt.