The People's friend., 1894-08-31
TO STOP LYNCHING.
Miss Wells Efforts Already Bringing Forth Good.
FAMOUS MEN AND WOMEN NOW
AT WORK AGAINST THIS
GREAT EVIL.

GREAT EVIL.
Despite the many attacks through
the press, and otherwise. made upol
Miss Ida Wells, the brave little lad,
who has taken bold stand agains
Southern lynchings, her efforts are
bringing forth the good already
The results of her tour through Eng
land is that some Of Queen Victoria's
most eminent subjects are address
ing vast audiences, forming commit.
tees, and are preparing to carry the
war into the Southern states.
An anti-lynching league has been
formed, the officers Of which include
the Duke Of Argyle Sir John E. Gorst
member of parliment for the Uni
versty of Cambridge, Justin McCar-
thy, Sir John Lubbock, Ellis Ash
mead Bartlett and Rev. Edward
White Benson, archbishop Of York
and primate of all England. OF this
league PassmOre Edwards is treasur-
er and Florence Balgarnie is secre-
tary. twenty-five thousand dollars
has already been raised to carry on
the work of the league. SirJOhn f.
GOrst, one of the most profound stud
ents Of social phenomena in the
world, perhaps, makes a special trip
to this Country in behalf of the
league. In answer to question put
to him on the subject he said: "It
surprises me that the American peo-
pie fail to realize the immense i'm
portance Of the phenomenon of
lynching. 1t is even regarded in
some parts of the United States as a
thing inevitable, like the rain. Now
apart from the reproach to American
institutions which the custom of
lynching embodies, is its effect upon
the humanitarianism of all people.
1t is mistake to suppose that
consideration for the Negro is at the
bottom of this movement. 1t is an
mother motive entirely that inspires
it. First, there is the regard for the
law. If the law be violated let the
courts punish. If it be pleaded that
delay thereby results, let the courts |
be increased, established for the |
trial of these criminals. Secondly, |
the moral effect Of such spectacle /
as lynching is demoralizing beyond |
expression. Take, for instance, the |
case of the Negro burned at the stake
in Texsa. Such a sight as that,
must destroy all altruism in a hu-
man breast. 1t has been stated that
merely to contemplate certain forms
)f vice, sullies a soul forever. The
same thing might be said of lynch
ng in its effects upou our higher hu-
man instincts.
Sir John will return to England
shortly to make report upon the
matter TO the society. He is also
studying the social problems of our
and. This interesting member of
Parliment is one of the few conser-
natives who have declined seat in
he house of Lords.
The first move Of importance will
'e the preparation of a memorial to
he governors of the Southern states.
Another task is the organization of
cries Of mass meetings in every
arge city. The speakers at these as
emblages are TO include men of ma
ional reputation as platform orators,
Archbishop Ireland, DR.. John Hall,
Watson Glider, w. Bourke
cochran, Carl Shurz, and others.
1t is gratifying to note that the
itiZens of the South do not regard >
he movement in a critical spirit |
IN the contrary, public men and !
lergy are getting ready to respond |
n no uncertain way. The Anti [
ynch league will receive the sup t
Ort of such eminent men as, Bishop j
)avis Lessums, of the Protestant S
Episcopal diocese of Louisiana Arch n
ishop Francis Janssens, of the Ro- t
IAN Catholic archdiocese in the d
anne state; Bishop Hugh Miller Il
thompson, of Mississippi; Bishop A. h
AN de Nyyer, of Virginia, and 9TH I,
rso of ihe leading clergy throughout
he South. F