The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-09-02
ooLoRED oITIzENs AROUSED.

COLOkED ClEIZEN5 AROUSED,
Fred Douglas and Oth-r Leaders De-
nounoe the Lats Lynchinx.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 1.-The announce
ment OF the lynching OF the eix colored
men in Tennessee was much talked
of here today and renewed interest in
the petition introduced by Represent
stive Black for an investigation of such
forms of lawlessness will probably be
acted upon early next session.
Hon. Fred Douglass. the venerable
pioneer of the movement, was seen by
an Associated Press reporter. He had
not read the report OF the affair nor did
he care to.
1T is only q continuation OF the
persecution of the past" he said OF first,
very bitterly.
what can I say about this affair
that | have not already said of similar
ones? My views are well known"
For moment he was silent and then
he continued, apparently speaking more
in borrow than in anger:
II regard this case as symptomatic, ;"
he said; ut belonge to that spirit OF
lawleasness which prevsils all over the
country. It'll usually said in defense OF
lynch law that it is only rseorted to in
revenge for single crime. But that is
not true. 1t ie resorted to alter almost
all offensea or alleged offences. They
kill man, tell how he locked when he
was accused how he confessed, how he
was strung up, but when the coroner's
jury is called they swear they do not
know who did it. They never know who
the man confessed to.
II do not believe their assertions. 1t
Is simply reign of terror in the south
for political purposes and to defeat the
constitutional amendments. One effect
OF this persistent awless violence in tho
south will be undoubtedly to produce
retaliation on the part OF the negroes.
Persecution will beget persecution and
secret revenge. Another effect will be
to keep the capital of the north and im-
migration from the north and from
| abroad from the common country. 1t ia
a deplorRble stats OF affairs, bat these
things will ultimately defeat themselves.
The thirst for blood will be satisted and
q reaction will take place.
Hon. B. X. Bruce, ex-United stetun
senator from Mississippi and ex-ragik-
trnr of the treasur-, t"uH conservative
view of the work of the lynchers in len
ssTt ia certainly an appalling affair"
he said, 'and earnestly hops that the
viii not Of tss. ts cSSapsy Snay Inn IN which +
traitors Of this murder have been
brought to Justice. The effect of the
lamentable occurrence will be, among
other things. to neutralize to some ex-
| tent the good chat is being done by the
Southern Development association.
which has just closed its session here.
This will be accomplished by prevent
ing capitalists from investing their
money in the southern statss.n
Mr.. Bruce refused to say whether any
uprising OF the negroes was to be ex.
pected. but intimated that the outcome
would not be OF that serious character.
Hon. j. B. Lynch, OF Mississippi. who
served three terms in congress and who
was fourth auditor OF the treasury dur
ing Harrison's administration. de-
nounced the lynchers and deprecated
the effect of the occurrence in i'm pedine
the growth OF the south. He said.
These lynchings have become 40 pre-
valent in the south that it is 70 longer a
matter of surprise to read of them
Naturally wac horrified to read of this
lynching, which was based merely on
the suspicion that the six men were
guilty OF arson. Those who have iusti-
fed, defended and excused freq
lynchings in the south have done 40 on
the ground that lynching was resorted
to only for the crime OF rape.
The truth is that the Iynchings
are the result Of morbid and deprsved
public sentiment which has tolerated all
criminal methods to stamp out and
efectually prevent the successful oppo.
eition to the ruling oligarchy which
bears the name OF Democracy In the
south. Lynching is only one speoies of
the lawlessness which dsmns that sec
tion of the country in the estimation of
peeceful and lawabiding citizens everv.
where. Hence it is bound to be detri-
mental to the industrial and commercial
interests of the south. 1t is not a race
matter, however, aud there will be no
retaliation from race standpoint"