The Irish standard., 1895-01-12
life 80 closely allied to the interests of
mankind and thatour life work is per-
petual public ser ice. .
LYNcH1NG IN THE SOUTH.

the past, thus indirectly making the
Armenian outrages possible. the Eng
lish press and English societies are con-
demning the United States for the lynch:
ing and race wars prevalent in the south
ern states. As is usual in such cases
the English papers greatly exaggerate
the troubles. The London press looked
upon the late trouble between the whites
and blacks in Georgia as little short of a
crisis In this country it is we'll known
that there never could be any prolonged
warfare between the whites and negroes.
The negroes would be no match at all
for the greater intelligence of the whites.
The real difficulty, the impending crisis
spoken of by the London Times and the
Spectator, is the fnal disposition to be
made of the negro population of the
southern states.
We can, however, in one particular
agree with the English press, and that is
in condemning unequlvocally the system
of lynching carried on in the south. The
recent acquittal of the parties guilty of
the murder OF six negroes, is disgrace
to our civilization. To those less &C.
quainted with the facts than Americans
are the effect is most scandalous.. No
wonder English societies draw up reso-
lutions condemning the action of the
American court which acquitted the ne
gro murderers. England has about as
much right to send representative over
here to investigate southern outraRes as
we have to send a representative to in
vestigate Armenian outrages. There is
not a northern white man who would got
say that such an act was in the interest
Of humanity.
There can be NO support offered for
lypching. Long ago before the organi-
cation of modern governments when the
family and the tribe we're the only or
ganizations the en- orcement of rights and
the redress of wro gs was left to private
vengeance. But after tho organization
of society and the institution Of govern
ment, trial by constituted law courts was
substituted for private vengeance.
Lynching is relic of barbarism, it is
more-it is relapse TO barbarian. Fail
ure to convict and peculiar circumstances
the case is often given as Il
justification for the public taking hand.
This is no justification. Lynching is a
wrong in itself. 1t is as much crime as
murder or rape. No one will earnestly
maintain that wrong should be pun
ished by q wrong, crime by crime.
Ia fact the very condition of public feel
ing which makes lynching possible would
be sure TO secure conviction IN the cases
where lynching deprlves the law of its
COURSE Nothing is therefore gained OK
cept a little rapidity which is to be
avoided rather than desired. We doubt
if there is a single intelligent white man
in the South who believes lynchlng is an
effective mode of punishment. The I'M.
3R1udcACA w Cho tclOiCN 14lnA 10 AAOAC
likely to be- impressed by slow, formal
justice than by mob justice
Southern supersensitiyeness about
women leads to q great deal of the
lynching. In the South any kind of vio-
lence is justifable if only committed in
behalf OF women. .Duelling was justified
when done for the honor Of women and
in the same way lynching is justified.
The idea that the dishonor OF women dis
graces all connected with her is false.
Women like men are the guardians of
their own honor and like men live under
the law and trust to the law for safety.
The physical weakness of women does
not call Cor any special protection. any
more than the physical weakness Of some
men The nobleness and sire. 9th of
character of Southern women hss been
much commented upon, and they should
BOW in the cause of humanity and law
show their disapproval of the "nigger
hunting" which go about numbering in
their names; they should with the women
of the North and OF England disclaim the
protection of such organizations and rely
upon the law. tits within the power Of
Southern women to. do much toward
Rbating lynch law.