The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-09-15

City various schemes were discussed Tor
bringing the resources Of the South 70 the
sttention o. the world and 20 invite emf
grants 70 settle theirs. The South has vast
mines OF co4l and iros, fertile lands. beds
Of phosphate and immense timber sup
piles. and surprise wss expressed that
settlers should choose homes in the West
ern rather than In the Southern states.
One speaker claimed that the South bad
been "nlsrepFesentsd wiifaliy and mail
eiousiy By press. priest aud pnlpit."
This convention had scarcely dispersed
when the nsws came OF the shooting Of the
six black prisoners near Memphis. Tenn
These prisoners were charged With incen-
disEism: we're msnseisd and in charge Of
sheriff and assistant we're on their way
20 jail. In this helpless condition they
wers surrounded BY fifty assassins, who
shot them 20 death and poured volley after
y0lley into their bodies wrfthlng in DEATH
This terrible affair has reused Gov. Tur-
nsy, Of Tennessee, TO action. Several men
have been arrested and indicted. Others
suspected Of completely have fed from
their homes. The governor has offered
s. 600 rewa ard for the arrest and conviction
OF the criminals. The Memphis Conner
eialAppeai bitterly denonnees this fright
fnl act OF lynch law. This same news
paper year ago editoriaIly approved the
lynching Of coIored man in Memphis.
From lynehIng negroes in cold blood
charged with rape the South has come TO
Iynching negroes charged sith barn burn
Ing.
Nothing viii come Of this present pro-
test against lynch law. Memphis had
Just as brutal lynching year ago, which
was perpetFsted in the presence Of the
sheriff and the local police. The ring
leaders and members OF the mob were
arrested. bus nothing came of it: the
whole investigation and trial was farce.
The Louisville courSer-JournaI, Dem.
says: There ought to be goodiy num-
Der Of legal hangings in Tennessee as
resul: of the atrocious murders by the
mob near Millington. II tho authorities
can and will bring these assassins TO
| justice they will do more 10 yindicate
the good name OF the state than can
| be otherwise done in ten years by
its public men. its immigration agents and
Its press" The Chattanooga Times, DEM,
calls FOR the hunting down Of the lynchers,
''as wolves are hunted," and demands
that they be made 20 suffer the extreme
penalty of the Law. "As long as lynch
Law Is allowed to reign supreme" says the
| Nashville American, Dem, las long
as courts are booted ct. and as long
as public sentiment accepts such condl-
tions, 30 long viii the opinion of the civil
lied world be against Us, and so long will
our borders be Stunned by the people we
| wish TO come to rs
This Is all true and well said, but there
is not the slightest present prospect Of re-
form. The trouble with the South is that
its civilization is utterly childish in its de-
velopmsnt and spirit. Not only are
| iynchings common, bat the Law seldom
Furnishes with severity homicides for
which the perpetrators would be hung in
the old states Of the East and Middle
| West.
Referring to an outbreak Of homicidal
| manls in Georgia. the Savannah Nesrs.
/
deadly weapons are used so frequently is
the almost absolute certainty that they
can be used without much Danger Of legal
| punishment The criminal may have a
good deal OF trouble to get rid of the in
dietment. and IL may impoverish hiIn to
| do IL. bat st no time. IL he is a white man,
is he greatly apprehensiTs of ending his
I 80 a.. ~ 49, L..
with more vigor and greater prompsnsss
! in bringing those charged With crimes OF
violence 70 justice, such crimes will con-
! tinns 10 be Of frequeut occurrence"
This is all true and well said, bat there
Is small prospect Of reform. because the
leaders Of public opinion are not really in
earnest in their protest against lynch law
and street murders. Even Ia West Yir-
gsnia murderer Of the wortt description
escaped fall justice. Col. Henry c. Par
sons. man Of New England birth, an ex-
chaplain of Union cavalry wounded
severely at Gettysburg. was murdered In
cold blood by railway conductor named
Goodman. an ex-eow boy who had already
klllea = man in cold blood Parsons would
not suffer in silence the diseoursesy aad
rudenass 10 which members OF hfs
family had been subjected by this
railroad conductor. lie complained
OF Goodman's conduct 20 the suusrintend.
snt Of the railroad. embodying in his let
ter other charges made by different per.
sons against the conductor. For this hi.
death apparently vas resolved upon by
Goodman. The letter Of complains was
given 70 Goodman for explanation liz
inquired for Parsons as several places, and
as soon as be hsard his voice az the hotel
where he vas hrsakfAstinS. he left tAs
table Immediately. aecosted Parsons ia
the Iohby. caught him By the collar and
| led him 20 the porch outside. eonfrontei
him vita the accusing letter. and thea
smpsiea the contents 81 his revolver intS
| his hody. killing him instantly.
Col. Parsons risht hand had been Ia
Jared in sn accident lie had "asithers4
hana, according to the evidence. lie has
when shot . railroad time table in tbs
other hand.
Parsons was nearly 60 years Of age; b,
| ala not carry arms. ana could not hav'
Used wftA bis withered srm q pistol If d,
had haa enc. When ssizsd by Goodman
he called thres times by name on the MAJ
Assr Of TIE hotel According 10 sn ey'
. witness GooamAn cred his last shot a. 81
| diving victim after the latter had fallsa {.
the door. TO the arst mao be met afss
i ts.. s~a-v.4v fs,ss.fxnsa sad. ~ hxve k{sf.s