The gold leaf., 1893-06-22
New York World. ]

Nt" VI " vi IA
The Charleston Nf70s amt Courier
is making an earnest and honorable
fight against the lawlessness which has
its most offensive illustration IN lynch
ing suspected criminals who would
suffer the death penalty under the law
if proved to be guilty.
Ex-Gov. d. II. Chamberlain takes
part in the discussion by publishing
in that newspaper an open letter TO
Frederick Douglass originally written
but not published last fall, after the
publication in the A0rH Ameyican
Pczie7g of Mr.. Douglass article on
"Lynch Law and Political Oppression
in the South
Gov. Chamberlain IS even more op-
posed to lynch law than Mr.. Doug
lass is. The latter granted that It
was justihable in some cases. Gov.
Chamberlain says that he stands with
Abraham Lincoln, who said "Ihere
is no grievance whatever that IS tlt
object of redress by mob law,
But the pith and point OF Gov.
Chamberlain letter IS that Mr.. Doug
lass induIges in a bitter general de
nunciation OF the people OF the South
for resorting to lynch law for the pun
ishment especially of one crime, as
saults by negroes on white women,
while nowhere in his article does he
speak in proper condemnation OF the
crime itself or urge his race to cease
from it. The Ntzps and Courier says
of this letter:
1t should be read by every color"Ima
in the State and throughout tn" south,
and particularly every cOlored preacher
and politician Like everything that
cx-GOv. Chamberlain says upon public
questions it goes to tn" bone and mar
row OF thesubi"ct.
This whole subject is of much i'm
portance to the social and political
relations Of both races, and - the
honor Of the whole people as owning
responsibility to the law, that we lrlnt
Gov. Chamberlain contribution to
this discussion in the W0yM as follows /:
EDIToR News AND CormER:-In OctO-
bcr last wr0t" an artirI" fnr til" Nort.
American Reriew ON Lynch Law and
Political Oppression at the South. The
article could not appear in tn" Eevly"
before the election OF November last on
account OF previously arranged pressure
on its space, and withdrew it. In View
of recent and current discussion OF the
first topic have ust rercad the article.
and | hand yOu the portion, Just as 1t
was originally written, as my cOntribu-
tiOn to the work, in which you'll say it
without Affection or wish to tlattnr-ar",
more than any other man OF the South,
bravry and wisely engaged, OF trying
to stem and turn back the waves OF dis
order and mob rule Ny article was in
the form OF an open letter to Frederick
Douglass and another, Mr.. Douglass
having published in the July number OF
the North American RsUieW an article on
the subject. Yours truly,
ID. II. tHANHERLAIN.
Charleston, :. e.. May II.
"YOu. Mr.. Douglass, arraign the whole
South without discrimination in terms
of objurgatOry clOquence. OF which YOU
are so perfect n master, for the preva
lence of lynch law. | can not 90 so faI
as YOU 90 in admitting exceptional eases
when lynch law may be useful or neccs
sary. The safety of society is its Ordi
nary excuse, but lynch law sacrifices fOr
society the very foundation of society
itself. 1t destroys instantly what it pro
fesses to seek to preserve; for lynch law
is not the right OF individual self-defenst
nor the right OF organized war in defense
OF life. rights or property. 1t l. anarchy
it Is barbaric force: it Is the negatiOn oi
law, order and Justice. 1t is social, civil
suicide and hari-kari. | stand with Abra.
ham Lincoln, who said; " There is nc
grievance whatever that Is Il fit object
of redress by mob law.
"lOur dcnunciatiOnS of the South on
this point are directed exclusively. OF
nearly so. against the application oi
lynch law for the punishment OF one crime
or one sort Oi crime. The cXiStcrce,
suppose might say the prevalence. OF
this crime at the South is undeniabie
but | read your article in vain for any
special dcnunciation OF the crime itself
You will say that it is unnecessary. super
tluOus: | admit, so far as YOU or yOur
own reputation is cOncerncd but YOU dc
not think that an article or speech-such
as have not vet seen from You or any
leader OF your race-specially denouncine
this particular crime, specially calling on
the negroes of the South to stamp it out
to preach and pray against it, warning
them III tones of such sOlemnity and elO-
quence as YOU alone can command to.
wards them, would go further towards
removing the evil OF lynch law for this
crime than many pages OF eloquent or
fiery general denunciatiOn of the white
people OF the South" do. II my voice
could reach and persuade the negroes oi
the South, as yours can. would summon
to my aid the thundcrs OF Olympus to
peal in the ears OF every seli-respecting
or respectable negro the message: You
say your people are lynched tortured
and burned for assaults on white women
As you value your own good name and
safety as race, stamp out the Infamous
crime. Ecrasez rinfame,'
"When the orators of France shouted
down with capital punishment" the
witty and wise old Noltaire replied: one
messieurs les assassins cOmmencentI It
was fine retort. but it is better than
that-it is the hint of u great lesson.
But pray, sir, consider a moment the
real situation at the South in the respect
we are now discussing. You at least are
not an irresponsible or professional
scribbler. You are not only conspicuous
figure in our history and public life. but
you have the most potent voice OF the
times when addressed to our cOlOred
fellOw-citiZens OF the South | am sure
you feel your responsibility as well as
you know it, and do not intend to i'll
iure those to whom you are specially