The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-02-28
Rev. J. c. Galloway on Lynch
ing.
From the New York Independent.

Lynchlngs 10 the South are inflicted
for two classes Of crimes-for murder
and house burning and for atrocities on
females. A large majority of those
lyoched are for the last.named crime.
These lynchings are the gravest
question now confronting the people Of
the Southern States. 1t is supefduous
to discuss the enormity of this evil.
The only question is, how can it be
prevented. or can it be prevented at all.
Let us divide the question. and look
first at those cases where lynching is
inflicted for murder aud house burning.
These constitute decided minority of
those lynched. If these were the only
instances of lynching the problem
would not be SO difficult, or require
very great amount of time or effort to
solve it. / think it is not difficult for
one 10 this section to see that there is
tide Of public sentiment coming in
against lyncbiug for murder and house
buring; an increasing disposition to let
the Law take its course in disposing of
such offenders. If it were not for
another disturbing circumstance, lynch
ing for these ofenses would likely
well-nigh disappear in the next ten
years.
What is this disturbing element? It
is that class Of lynching which is visit
ed on miscreants who assault helpless
women. Here is the core Of the mat
ter. Most of these crimes, both of the
first and second class, are ommitted by
persons Of color; and as the wrongs
Inflicted against white females are SO
much more numerous. and engender
such fierce hate and race antagonism, it
constantly keeps alive and inteusifes
the disposition to wreak vengeance on
colored persons for any grave offense
whatever, when done to white per-
son. The. frequent occurrence Of these
ofenses never allows the caldron Of pas
sion to cool. The result is the frequent
lyncbing of colored persons for any
grave ofense. When State is thrown
into excitement evory few days by crime
against helpless women, it is not very
surprising that naturally hot blood soon
boils over. It is the heat and passion
eogendered by this beassly offense that
leads on to lyncbiug for murder and
house burning. Eliminate it and it
would not be difficult to deal with other
forms of lyuching.
There are several things which act as
an ever-probing thorn to keep open
this ever running sore. One is the
presence in almost every county
throughout the South of some lady who
has been the victim, living year after
year as one in tomb, ever under the
shadow Of that great horror, shut in,
hopeless and helpless. They have
friends and relatives who cannot forget
their deep humiliation. and who are
! aroused to fury 90 the recurrence OF
similar wrongs to others.
Another is the apprehension, terror
and nameless horror which has resulted
from the frequency Of these outrages.
There are wide tracts of country where
there are dozen blacks to one white,
where white families are miles apart.
| The apprehension and fear created by
these outrages in the minds Of this sparse
white population, and especially among
the females, is both pitiable and terri
BILE. If neighbor is visited it is done
with "fear and trembling peering
behind and before. scanning every
thicket, aud starting at the rustling Of
every leaf Many girl is kept home
from school, aud allowed to grow up in
ignorance, rather than expose her to
this risk.
Most of the protests which are being
made against lynching come from those
who are living in cities and towns,
where this apprehension is little felt.
In the country districts there is an om-
inous silence.
Another thing which has operated
very efficiently 10 taking the punish
meDt of this crime out Of the hands OF
the court, is the iuvincible repuguauce
of the people to bringing the victim Of
the crime before a crowded court room
and to be subjected to cross examins-
tion, to be gazing stock to curious
publican ordeal more dreadful to a
refined woman, under the circumstan-
ces, that even death. 1t is hard to see
how man can permit wife or daugh-
ter to undergo such an ordeal. Hence
it is the settled purpose of the people
to make such disposition of cases, as
not to require public exposure of the
victim. It is useless to deny that race
prejudice also has much to do with this
swift and terrible indiction of mob
vengeance. Still it is only true to say
that any white man in the South, how
ever high his position. who inaicts a
similar wrong, will die at the hands