Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-07-24
INFLUENCING AGITATION
Mrs. Ida Wells5 Barnett Says Her WoEk is
Done.
She Sees Evidences That Public Opin-
lon Is Strongly Setting Against
a BarharOus Practice.

Mrs. Ida Wells Barnett, the colored
woman who went to England and attract
ed the attention of the British press by
denouncing lyncting in the United States
a couple of yearssago, is in the city. She
Is married now to Mr.. F. l.. Barnett. a
prominent attorney Of Chicago.
When asked by a Star reporter If she
had anything to say on lynching she said:
AT one time could get no hearing in
this country for my story about the awful
ness OF lynching, but since l went to
England upon the request of friends over
tnere and was afforded so many excellent
OPT ortunities to let the world know how
the mob reigned in my country. I have
more m,,h OF opportunities to reach the public
Of
II came here to represent my club, the
IDA y. Wells Club of Chicago, at the fed
GRAFTON convention, but to a large extent
l am woman of one idea, I suppose.
That ts, I consider it my mission to de-
nounce lynching at all times and at every
opportunity. I am married now and have
baby, and. of course, can't get around
70 speak as much as 1 used to, but 1 am
not one whit the less resolved to do all
can to arouse public sentiment to sense
o., OF responsibility for the numerous lynch
lngs taking place almost daily.
see that you have had some lynchings
right here. almost in stones throw of
the capital. These lynchings and the
tAaSAl u tNem Dy the city press, the
action OF the governor Of Maryland in Of
1erlng large reward for the apprehen-
son OF the lynchers all uphold the position
which took three years ago when 1 en-
d des to get a hearing before the mold
ers OF public sentiment In this country.
MY subject was so unpopular that could
get no white audience to listen to the story,
ana none OF our race leaders. save the
great and only Douglass and few faith
ful men and women, would take any part
IN the meetings which were held. ] said
tnen mat lynching was becoming so prev
aient that very soon the mobs would not
Tins I said that grant the mob's right
TO lynch for a certain crime and after
aWnlie II would lynch for anything which
s SUI noa Its fancy. I said also that the
sllence OF the press and pulpit was en-
coIragem@nt to mobs to override the law
whenever they felt inclined. I said also
.nat mary negro was lynched as
scapegoat for another mans crime, An
editorial in one of the papers clearly states
mat the !ynchfng of Sydney Randolph,
me negro lynched in Montgomery county
MO, was lnstigated by the real murderer
OF Sadie Buxton. Randolph was the scape-
goat.
The editorial also declares that the col
ored men who held the meeting a few even
lngs since made q mistake In making a
race question of 1t. I do not know about
mat meeting nor what action was taken.
90 Know that every negro organization
with which l am familiar that has passed
soiutioilS on the subject has always con-
aemned lynch1ng per Sc, even though the
lynchlng which brought forth the meeting
was OF colored man. 1 do know, also,
that flve-sixths OF the 1000 persons who
nave been lynched in the past fifteen years
nave been negro men, women and children,
ana that so long as this was true public
sentiment was absolutely dead on the SUBJ
)ect. But now that they have begun to
make common thing of lynching white
men and 1t Is seen how it jeopardizes the
interests of white men by the mobs bring
Ing the state in which they thrive into dis
repute, there has been a wonderful change
In public sentiment. Democratic governors
are offering rewards for the apprehension
of lynchcrs, southern legislatures are pass
Ing laws against them. democratic news
papers are uttering the strongest editorial
notices Of condemnation. noted ministers
OF the Gospel are preaching against lynch
Ing. the National w. c. T. U. has passed
resolutions against 1t. and the republican
national convention has put plank in It's
platform against It. Truly the country Is
awakening and predict the early decay of
that strictly American Institution known
as lynch law. My work is done, therefore
feel myself free to retire to the obscurity
whence / sprang and devote myself to my
private affairs and domestic duties"