The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-10-14
English Cruelty vs.. Southern LynchinG.

a great deal Of indignation has been
recently envoked from the Governors
and the people of the United States by
the rumor that a self-consututed COM
mittee OF Englishmen are coming over
to the United States to investigate the
fierce penalties which have, of late years,
been inflicted upon those criminals Iouhd
guilty Of rape.
In the greatest number Of cases these
criminals have been negroes, and the
crimes have been pcrpetrated in the
States. where, until recently, negro
The writer recalls in this connec-
ton a conversation with Dr. Josiah
Knott, of Mobile, Ala, then the most
were commenting upon the TACT that the
negroes upon the southern plantations
had behaved with such remarkable IL
deity to their masters. whose families
I'm most instances. Law at their mercy
For the master and all other male mem
hers Of the white families, were away
I'm the armies, and their women and
children were entirely unprotected by
any of the white race. Yet none of us
could recall an instance in which vio-
lence had been done to our women and
children by the slaves.
Dr. Knott was OF opinion that me
negroe race is very kindly race, but
that Of all mankind it is the most i'm
PEELED by carnal desire. That while at
home with their own women about
them, they had every opportunity and
were without motive to seek IT from those
whom they habitually feared and respect
ed. The experience up TO the last genera
ton of the southern State corroboTates
this opinion of Or. Knott
The safe guards Of the white families
of the South have beap broken down,
the negro has opportunity and incentives
to crafty his passions, which nave
never IN his days of servltude been
so free to him, and in many cases
revenge quickens his desire.
The unnatural frequency Of the viola
ton of immature girls show this, while
il explains ana instifes the swift and
fierce VenQence of the fathers, brothers
and husbands, whose tenderest have
been the prey of these mOnstrOus pas
sions.
In the very presence Of the victims of
such barbarity no man of our race should
be harshly judged, when with his own
hand he avenges his own VT ing. lie Is
In no mood TO leave 10. the law, delays
the craft OF ingenious lawyers, and the
imbicility of juries the execution of
yengence, then his solemn duty, anu
peculiar right. -,
juries in recent cases of rape and muir
der. give assurance that our own people.
have been awakened 10 the necessity
OF preventing the barblrous lynchings
which have recently brought reproach
Eut OF all the Christian people on
earth. how is II that charges of in
humanity come from the Enslish-who
have in this age Of enlightenment ana
progress, perpetrated more cruelties than
all OF the rest of mankind?
We have TO cite only the events of the
nineteenth century to prove this
When he great Duke Of Wei ington
went 10 the Penlnsular war he declared
medicine contra band Of war:
When his English army gained posses
sion of the cities of their allies and
friend, which French garrisons had oc-
cuped, they sacked them with the brutal
lty Of heathen warfare. St Sebastian
was for seven days at the will of Bri-
fish soldiery, who violated the women
of all classes, while they plundered their
homes.
a few years later these same British
soldiers invaded our country; made al les
Of our Indian enemies and English Off
GERS led them on, while they inflicted
the atrocities of Indian warfare upon
our helpless people.
1t is in the English navy only, that
In the memory OF men now living, the
cruelties OF the press gang, and the
"Aogging around the feet" have been
perpetrated: and may still be found in
the criminal code of that service.
II was for the dynasty. which inakes
England to-day TO wage the opium war
and 10 execute upon the SepOy prisoners
the unheard penalty OF blowing from
cannon.
II was an English officer who havin,
captured the Princess or Delhi, shot
them with his own hand as they rode
unarme1 in his power; then exposed their
naked bodies in the public places of
their city. and received from lis peonle
and Queen high honor and promCtiin
But, perhaps, the most cruel of an theIr
cruel wars. have BEEN the most recent
And Africa, the country Of thu negro.
whose unheard Of crimes and sviIf re,
tribution now quickens their humanity.
mas been the scene OF English cruelties
unheard Of since Caesars day.
NO war was ever made even by an
,ssnsa Hosernment, more unjust or