The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-11-21
Some Views on LvnchinRs.


In communication published in this
issue there is some show of indignation at
the position of the MORNING NEWS rela-
tive to lynchings. The writer of the com
munication objects to the condemnation
Of lynchers, vet he disclaims any purpose
Of unfolding them. just what his views
are does not clearly appear, beyond
the fact that he wants the laws amended
so that those who are guilty Of the crime
for which lynchings are most frequent
shall be swiftly punished. In fact, when
what he says is closely analysed, his pO
sition does not seem to appear TO be very
different from that of the MORNING
News
He says that the position of the MoRN-
ING News is that occupied by few other
southern papers of more or less note, by
the radical press of New England and by
some western papers We do not know
exactly what he means by the radical
press Of New England unless he means all
the papers Of New England, and that
they are radical in their views.
If there is paper of prominence in this
whole country whose position differs from
lAieAA "a LAAC -f4OH-N4-Nr M No Ou tLAC HuNo-
ton of lynchings. we do not know it. All
of them, north, south, east and west are
outs pOken against recognizing lynchings
for any crime. Not only are the papers
against them, but the ministers of all de-
nominations and the laws of every state
are against them. Even the writer of the
communication seems to be against them,
because he speaks of the odium of them.
The writer of the communication thinks
the condemnation Of lynchings tends to
make heroes and martyrs of those who
are lynched. That is view we
have not heretofore heard ex-
pressed, and we do not think there
is any evidence to sustain it, Always
there is expressed the utmost detestation
of those guilty of the crime for which
men are oftenest lynched.
The writer, Judging from what
he says about the slowness of
the law and the tendency to
give the accused the benefit of a doubt,
has not much respect for either the law
as administered or those who administer
it, or confidence in juries, and yet the
judges and jurles come from The com
munities in which the crimes which
arouse men to take the law into their own
hands are committed. If they
cannot be depended upon to find the
accused guilty when guilt is proven, who
can Surely it is not desired that the &C
cused shall suffer death when his guilt is
not proven?
We agree that the enforcement of the
law is too SLOW not only in case of the
crime under consideration, but also in
that of all other crimes. We have often
urged, and still urge reform in this re-
spect. Swift punishment in a lawful way
will do more than lynchings to put a stop
to the crime to punish which lynch law
is invoked.
Lynch law has been given pretty fair
trial. There have been hundreds of
lynchirgs within the last few years But
black brutes still seek victims. Indeed
they appear to have become holder and
more aggressive 1t is evident they are
not afraid of Judge Lynch. Punishment
in a legal way means that the whole COM
munity is organized against them and is,
therefore, more terrifying.
Lynchlngs VIII stop when the crime
that incites lynchings is not committed
Efforts should be made, therefore, to
create strong sentiment among the
blacks against the crime And the laws
ought to be so amended that those COM
hitting the crime would have a speedy
trial and swift punishment. Those who
defend lynchings are controlled by their
feelinpS NOT their ind CrrnentS IF tho iudo
ment of the people was in favor of lynch
ings the law would be changed and lynch
ings made lawful.