The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1895-10-24
THE WHIPPING POST NEEDED.

II ID dSIccu Oh dill SiuCo ttldt IiiaS
steadily increases in spite Of Judge
Lynch and incompetent courts. There
are those who fatter themselves that
this is not the case, but statistics estab-
lish beyond possibility of doubt that
crime increases more rapidly in the
United States than e population in
creases. Last year the Chicago Inter
Ocean gathered the statistics of muir
ders and the total number nearly
reached the enormous sum of 10000.
Of these criminals, but little over 100
were hanged by the courts. Judge
Lynch had executed some 135. These
are the more outrageous crimes, but
here are a great many of the less
fragrant crimes that require q milder
punishment, and consequently the
courts are found to be more faithful
in the execution of law and in the pun
ishment of offenders. Crime is not
confined to States or sections. In the
North, there has been much opposition
to hanging and to the whipping post.
But now and then newspaper that
is less given to sentiment and sees
more clearly the imperative necessity
OF furnishing crime with severity, comes
out boldly for capital punishment for
the grosser crimes, and favors the use
of the whipping post for the smaller
ofenses. Brutality must be suppressed
and the peaceably disposed must be
protected.
The grand jury in the District Of
Columbia recommends the use of the
whipping post fer the punishment Of
certain classes of criminals. This is
a movement in the right direction,
and it would be good thing for all
the States if such a means of punish
ment was adopted. We may not
doubt that its constant use would
prove highly salutary any represslve.
We have observed that the able Wash
ington Post has eagerly and bravely
espoused the cause. Writing of GER
tain brutalities practiced by inhuman
monsters, it declares that the women
and children who are the victims must
be protected. It says we must either
encourage or repress, either punish or
condone these crimes. 1t says:
"Ruffians, towards, brutes, they fear
nothing but pain. They laugh at the
well-fed penance Of the Jail. They re-
regard the prospect of the workhouse
with contemptuous Indifference. But
they would shrink from the lash. The
whipping post would bring home to them
some of the agony and terror. they in
flct on others, Ii any thing may restrain
them it is the gnout.
'I.et US move for the whipping post,
then"
In North Carolina, the whipping
post was long in use and it exercised a
deterrent power. We remember that
a man from Virginia came into Gran
vile county, committed robbery, was
arrested, tried and received thirty-nine
lashes on his naked back and was
thence taken to Richmond, Virginia,
where he und erwent the sentence for
another crime which took him to the
penitentiary. for number of years.
He committed the crime in Granville
on Monday night, was tried on We'd
nesday, and by Saturday was in the
penitentiary in Virginia. He did not
seem to have any special horror Of
serving in the penitentiary, but he said
he would never again perpetrate
crime in any State for which he must
be punished at the whipping post.
There can be no more barbarity in
furnishing criminals with whipping than
many years, solitary confinement in
dungeons or in hanging. Sentiment
atty is always shocked at severity, and
many who are ready to have offenders
against them severely dealt with, are
immensely stirred at the punishment
of crime by the "barbarous whipping
post"
But the necessities of our day in the
face of growing crime and widespread
cruelty, demand the faithful execution
of law and often the sharpest punish
ment. Philanthropy is good in its
place, but it is most grossly missap-
piled when extended to scoundrels
and brutes who know nothing of phil
anthropy, and who have no visitations
of mercy. The gibbet, the dungeon,
the whipping post, and the peniten-
tiary are the right remedies to be- ap-
piled in cases where sentiment and
philanthropy should have no showing.
Wilmington Messenger.
In the Interest of the Negro Exhibit.
Warren G. Coleman, of Concord,
Chief Commissioner for North Carolina
of the Negro Exhibit at the Atlanta
Exposition, was here last week trying
to interest our colored citizens in the
work he is engaged in. We trust his
coming was not without good results.
1t is gratifying to learn that the COL
ored people have made such a fine
showing for the progress and intelli-
gence of the race as is to be found in
the Negro Department at the Exposi-
ton. And we are told that ample &C
comodations at very low rates have
been secured for all colored people who
desire to visit the great fair. Lodging
may be had from % cents up while
board is from 25 cents to $3.50 a day,
according to individual preference.
Special arrangements for schools and
theological students in bodies.
Persons wishing information about
Accommodations, &C., should write to
the Negro Department of Public Com
fort, l64 Wall street, Atlanta, w. B.
Matthews and F. H. Crumley, mana
gers.