Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-09-27
LynchinG and the Law.

10 tne Eailtor OF The Evening Star:
In your Saturdays issue Mr. F. p. Smith.
after prating a good deal about what he
terms the noble life of the law (refer-
ring to the Roanoke rioD, says that it
the law-wculd have been cheaply purchas-
ed though every man (meanins those who
composed the mob who had raised hand
against the negro had fallen" 'Tisn't that
We care for Mr.. +. Il. Smiths estimate of
men or his strike at the southern people.
since the hand that he raised Is the same
that has carried the bloody shirt for thirty
years and has found itself arrayed at all
times against chivalrous people, who
have nearest to their heart the protection
of their women and the sanctity of homes!
No. we only care for that much of Mr.. F..
p. Smiths fling will give us an oppor-
tunity to refer to what he pathetically calls
the noble life of the law" 1t is of late
patent to every man who reads and remem-
bers. to every woman who has a wrong to
right, to every plaintiff who has had a trial
and experiences. that appealing to the law
would be peoples last resort. 1t is also
patent to observer that more innocent
people suffer and more criminals escape
through technicalities and laundering of
the law than can be chargeable to any or
ganized mob of good citizens! Prating
about the nobility of many of our present
laws-let us cite a case or two Miss Pol
lard, who has just filed suit in your city
against what she characterizes as her Sc
Queer. has been told that her case can't
possibly come up in the courts sooner
than two years. Would a noble life Of a
law-think you-allow poor woman who
may have been deeply wronged to live
between life and death for two such long
years? Or should the defendant, If accused
unrighteOusly, be forced to stand the shame
and live under such cloud for so long a
time without a chance to vindicate his char
acter? Would a noble life Of the law look
complacently on while, by it's DEGREES crimi-
nails are held chain-bound for months and
years, in murderous cells, until the country.
failing to learn whether they are guilty or
no, nave fOrEOtten the circumstances and
folly instead of a lesson Is left for
moral? Would a noble life Of the law per-
init disappointed heirs to Illustrate the
earnest designs of many Of our hallowed
rascals that they may snatch many q life
saving from the rightful owner! No! And
We say emphatically that the noble life of
the law of today exists only in ghost FORM
means who has a grievance, of whatever
nature. We still further say, appeal to the
law only as the dernier resort. AS the
courts are now governed, the Door have not
the means Of going to law (the privilege
being too costly, and hence they have to
live on and suffer and let their difficulties
settle in forgetfulness. The lynching in the
south, when fully explained to the people
of the north. will be set down as a neces-
sary evil, made so by the rather ignoble life
or the law, and 1t is matter of no con-
sequence to the people of Roanoke whether
a Haunting traducer adjudges them saints
or anarchists. Let the laws of the land be
so plainly written that they shall mean that
retributive justice shall follow al once, and
let them be so simple and the courts so ar
ranged that the poor with $25 grievance
can have its case pleaded for a mere nomi-
nal fee. and when done lynching will not
only disappear from the days records, but
there will be a universal law-abiding and
iiberty-loving people. and fewer women
ravishers and highwaymen to disturb the
peace of the country. The fault, We think
is in an ineffective law. j. S. ~