The Afro-American., 1895-08-31
THE LYNCHING BUSINESS.
A Ringing Article from the Race
Published by Judge Tourgee.

After all that has been said, and in
view of the facts themselves, how easily
Northern people are fooled in regard to
th,s real animus that under-lies the
lynching of negroes in the South.
Itis almost impossible 70 discuss this
matter without being met with the re-
mark. .tWell of course l don't believe
in lynching, but you can't blame people
much for protecting the honor of their
wives and daughters even by illegal
means"
1t never seems to occur to these peo-
pie that in 19 cases out of 90 there is
absolutely no proof forthcoming that
Negroes who have been lynched as the
the reports allege, for foul crimes. In
discussing a case of this kind with a
shrewd business man, the writer was
met by the statement "Why the brute
himself confessed that he was guilty"
.How do you know he confessed?" he
was asked "The paper said so.' was
the reply. Just think of this as evi-
dence! A Negro is burned at the stake,
some agent, perhaps himself one of the
fiends who helped 10 do the deed, or
neishbor and sympathiZer with those
who did, sends press despatch that the
man was caught by an armed mob, con-
fessed the crime. and was then done to
death. To whom did he confess? What
did he confess? / nder what Circum-
stances? These details are too unim-
portant. The report does not say. 1t
very likely depends on the word of
some chivalrous gentleman who believes
in burning rniggar2 at the stake, or
in shooting him to death If he asks for
his wages. Shall he be icsuIted by be
inc asked toasupport his word by any
evidence? Assuredly not.
But as to tR Re probabilities (although
one would hardly think it just in h s own
case to be convicted on probabilities
is it probable that there are as many
cases Of rape and assaults as reported?
To our mind it is. The Negro has SO
long been treated like beast that it is
wonder that some of the race degenerate
10 the level Of the beasts, and then too,
has been 80 long and so often ignored,
why should he not cease to respect vir-
tue and honor?
But tracing probabilities farther; if
such crimes are frequently committed
(and nothing ought to prove an excuse
to prevent their most certain and terrible
punishment) then from all we can
learn from the reports that are given in
the press, and from those that come in
more direct and circumstaptial way, it
is SO probable as to be almost an abso-
lutte certainty. that it does not make any
great difference what particular Negro
suffers for the crime Since there are
no little formalities of trial or proof or
even of Investigation, one ''nigger" will
answer for a victim as well as another
Whether he be guilty or innocent, he
will make a horrible example, and one
''niggar' more or less is Of small ac-
count.
If anyone doubts the justice or fair
ness of this statement or the case, let
him read the press despatch of the latest
reported case which is as follows:
AT Hope Henry, in a colored church
five miles west of Lake City, Fla,
party took Robert Bennett, a
young colored preacher from the
pulpit, carried him short distance
off, and lynched him. When the body
was found by the roadside, the brains
were shot out, the throat was cut and
both ears were cut off.
A protracted meeting was in pro-
gress at the church, and the preachers,
and congregation had all gone to sleep,
awaiting and watching with ''mourners
in trance. and it was just before day
break when the party entered and rous-
ed Bennett, who was asleep in the pull
pit, and dragged him out over another
preacher and took him away. His Oh
fense, it is said, was an assault upon
white woman in Sewanee County re-
Gently, and from there the lynchers
are said to have come The usual
warning was left attached to the body.
Notice the swording. of the report.
The man was taken III the night from
among crowd of sleeping Negroes.
Considering the fact that he WIS selag
taken 10 his execution. the Identification
cannot be said to hare been Very care
full. Again the report says, sst1ls Of-
LGnSes IL Is Salus WAS al s~s~t 49,
white woman in Sewanee County recent
ly.r At the best, it is mere report,
report of an assault upon white wo-
man. What woman? Oh, woman.
Where? In Sewanee County; the pre-
else location is no matter, somewhere
in the county. But when was this mys-
terious assault upon an impersonal some
one. ia an uncertain somewhere, for
which man is dragged from sleep a
mong crowd, in the night, to pay the
penalty Of his life. In the name OF JUS
tice. when Waatais ofFense committed2
Why tsrecentl sometime this week or
5 is year lwI the need BE being 50
6cumstantia Il name tie day when
it Is only q garn preacher tha. y
10 Be- nurdd and muliIated- God
pity The couut here such crimes Aaa
$3.50 ALI <~4s f7E-y.~, - garo4os& here fAt4