Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-08-06
AIMED AGAINST LYNCH,vG.
Representative blair Explains the
investigation He Proposes.

Representative Blair Explains the
Investigation He Proposes.
Much comment has been occasioned in
congressional circles by Representative
Blair's resolution for an investigation of
unlawful punishment for crimes, which il
directed mainly toward the custom OF deal
ing out lynch law to co}ored men, who are
alleged to have assaulted white women.
The subject is one which has been brought
prominently before The public recently. The
New Hampshire member wishes it to be
understood that he has no aniLus against
the south in the matter
1.-The growth of mob law I'm this country"
he said, has been manifested of late wears
by the white cap organizations which have
taken to whipping certain citizens Of the
west there has been tarring and feathering
Also and lynChing has been even perpe-
trated in New York state. In these days of
labor troubles and Industrial discomfort the
T. ndency toward organized violence is one
which cannot be countenanced by law
abiding citizens. 1t is the essence of an
archY itself.
There Is twice as much punishment in
fiioted by lawful processes now as by one
process Of the law. and this punishment of
crime organized but unlawful violence is a
greater crime than those against which IL
is directed. There are said to have been
ore than 2OOOO criminal homicides In the
~
these ofrenses 33t were punished by legal
executions. How ths rest of the crimes
v ere treated does not appear. and the
greater portion seem not to have been pun
ished at all. Much could be said about
minor outrages like whipping or tarring and
gathering, but most notorious are the
cases of assaults alleged to have been COM
milted upon females for which punishment
by lawful process is universally inflicted
throughout a large part OF the country.
The whole record raises grave doubt
whether republican institutions are ade-
qraie for the preservation of order I'm the
administration of justice in society The
increase of murders from 1889 to 1892 was
almost 100 per cent. Probably no civilized
country ever presented such deplorable
record as ours would appear to be from
statistics apparently well authenticated.
Perhaps the reports are greatly exag-
Geiated The only way to ascertain is by
an impartial and official investigation which
would be neither difficult nor expensive to
make. The department of labor has col
lected statistics of divorces, which must
have been much greater labor, and it's
special Investigations into rates of wages,
the slums of cities and building associations
have been of the greatest benefit to the
toLntry. They are made quietly and i'm
partially, and are reliable. All political
parties have expressed confidence in the
work of the department Nine millions of
colorei people are in this country, and they
are crying out against the violence and In
Justice 10 which they allege they are being
subjected. If we continue to do nothing
al out it, as we have during the last twenty
years. God Almighty is liable to take a
hand in it before we know what Is going on,
as he did 80 years ago. The truth being as
certained-be 1t for better or for worse-pub-
lie opinion Of mis- country and OF the world
will correct the evil. There can be no
doubt of the duty nor the Jurisdiction OF
Congress in the matter the government has
alw avs investigat ted, has taken the census,
has investigated the educational and indus
trial condition Of the country and all sub
jects of this nature relating to crime
THE resolution has gone 10 the commit
tee on lab0r, and will probably lie over
Until the winter session, giving opportunity
for everybody who may desire the investiga-
ton to make known their wishes to the
committee by petition and by hearings,
which will probably be accorded them. Mr..
McGann. the chairman. informs me that he
is in favor OF ascertaining the truth, and
giving II to The country, whatever 1t may
be. 1t Is an unpleasant duty to introduce a
resolution of this kind but have felt that
II was almost crime to neglect il. We be-
&C me parties ID this unlawful violence and
are more guilty than the excited people
no perpetrate II, Il, after 1t is over, In
each case we quietly subside and wait for
It's repetition on larger scale. II the
colored people do not see fit to embrace
this opportunity TO reach the truth regard
ing the wrong; which they complain Of, let
Tie m forever after hold their peace"