Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-08-14
The Anti-Lynch-Law Agitation.

Here Is a letter sent to tn Dispatch by
the English "Antl-Lynchng Committee
Since we are asked to publish it and in
asmuch as we are sincerely DESTROYS as
soon as possible Of putting an end 10 tn
unofficial administration Of justice now
known as lynch law, We beg TO represent
to the committee that il is not going to
work In the right way.
IL Is proceeding in u manner which Is
sure TO exasperate the southern people,
and quite sure to do more harm tnan
good The committee starts out ill-in-
formed and begins u malignant crusade
against people OF whom IL knows little
and evidently wishes to learn nothing
If it really wishes to know the truth
it should first take pains to enquire why
it Is that the people OF the Southern States
of America, most of whom are of unmiNed
English descent. sometimes find it neces-
sary to resort to lynch law. 1t may learn
by inquiry that In some parts Of this coun-
try ii Is a matter of great risk for "A white
girl to so TO a neighbours house unattend-
ed lest she be waylaid and assaulted in a
heartless manner by some big negro field
| hand. Even girls Of : or years Of age
are not exempt from danger.
This is the great crime Of the freedman.
| or at least Of many OF the freedmen; but
| It was almost unknown to the slave
When such crime is committed, there
are two reasons why the criminal is
| lynched. In the first place justice is then
| quick and sure. In the next. the white girl
victim does not have to go 10 court. there
| to be questioned and cross-questioned
| until in her agony and shame she lives
| over again the monstrous outrage COM
| mltted upon her.
Lynchings are not frequent in Nirginil:
even for the freedman's crime the law Is
| often allowed 10 take it's course. and we
| wish that II could take its course always,
| but the English crusaders have not gone
| to work in the right direction TO bring
| about reform. The way to put an en-
| barge on lynching is To put stop to the
| crime which justifies II in the opinion OF 50
| many thousands of good people. On this
| line the crusaders committee should 50 10
| work. and II they could enlist the help
| of the colored teachers and preachers
| they might do a great deal OF good AS
| 1t is, We cannot but believe that If the
| crusaders committee were TO come to
| the South and reside in "a black belt
! for a few years nine out Of ten Of them
would justify lynching for the crime
| against girls. and all Of them would be
| active participants in lynching affairs
| where any OF their own woman-kind
were concerned. AS good and wise men
as any Of the Ida Wells crusaders have
| come South with their opinions and preju-
! dices, and have learned 10 excuse II not
to applaud lynch-law. But here is the
crusaders circular. bristling with preju-
dice and packed with libels. as much so
as If 1t had come from the pen OF Ida
| Wells:
| LONDON. W. c., ENG. July 60, 1894.
To the Editor OF the Dispatch:
Dear Sir-May hope that In the int
rests OF the negro you will do the great
| service OF inserting the enclosed inaugu-
raj letter on behalf Of this committee.
| and II possible draw further attention 10
1t in your valuable leader columns?
| Yours faithfully
| FLORENCE BALGARNIE,
Honorable Secretary.
ANTI-LYNCHING COMMITTEE.
| To the Editor OF the Dispatch:
Sir,-Permit me to draw Your sympa-
| thetic attention to committee which has
| been formed In response to the appeal for
help which has reached this couatry from
the negro Dopulatian of the United States
/ OF America.
L The ahiecfs Of this cnmtniffea ara. ..,ro