Evening star., 1896-07-28
AGAINST LYNCH LAW
Mass Meeting Of Oolored Citizens at Shiloh
.~.~ Baptist Church.
Resolutions COndemninx the Prac-
Wells Barnett and Others.

crowded to listen to speeches against the
lynching of persons charged with crime,
whether they be white or black.
Tie meeting was called to order by Mr..
Taylor who conducted devotional exer-
cises, following which Prof. j. NJ Langs-
ton was introduced as the chairman for
the occasion. Mr.. G. Snowden was secre-
tary.
Prof Langston explained the object of
the meeting and reviewed the history of
the movement which was started several
" weeks ago in order. he said. TO create a
sentiment in antagonism to the spreading
of lynch law, which had, he said, reached
| alarming proportions in Maryland.
Mrs. Barnetfs Speech.
Mrs. Ida Wells Barnett, who was then
| introduced, said she realized four years
ago, from the killing of some of her
friends in the south at the hands of lynch
law, what barbarous practice lynch law
| is.
"It is indeed high time" said she, 'tha;
you should do all you can to put down
lynching. If We consider that it devoIves
evils of lynch law should do all
can to carry out our mission.
THE time has come when We should act
| as well as pray. 1t is our duty to get all
the facts about every lynching and to lose
no Opportunity to show to the public that
the people of this country are fast becom-
| ing a nation of mErdererS."
Mrs. Barnett further said there had beer
many crocodile tears shed in the United
States over affairs in Armenia, when at
| the same time there is a far worse state
| Of matters in this country. She also said
1t had been charged that the colored peo-
pie were making a race issue of the lynch
ings but this was a mistake, the race
issue had been made by the lynchers and
mobbers themselves
The statistics. she said. showed that of
the lynchings which have occurred in this
country during the last ten years nine
tenths of them We're CT colored people.
In advising her hearers what course to
pursue, she said:
Educate Public Sentiment.
Get yourselves united and educate pub
| lie sentiment on this-Subject. and there
| will certainly be rei1tl0h. Point out to
| injured by the lynchings. but the American
| ration Is disgraced thereby.
There ought" said she, Ito be societies
organized throughout the country, certain
| ly there ought to be one in Washing ton,
and there ought to be speakers to go be-
fore every national gathering and explain
the horrible character of lynchings. / nave
| never spoken before a white audience that
! they were not amazed to learn that from
80 to 200 persons We're lynched in this
country each year and that nearly all Of
these were negroes.
Mrs. Barnett. continuing. said that what
and colored men who commit crimes of
similar nature be punished in an equal de-
gree
In concluding she appealed to her audi
ence lot to let the agitation on the sub
| ject which has been started here die ont.
but to push forward the move ement until
| lynchings are a thing Of the past.
Later i'll the evening it was determined
to have a committee appointed by the
| chairman of the nesting to make arrange
ments for carrying Mrs. Blrnetts sugges-
| tions into effect.
In a second address Prof Lansston said
present anti-lynching movement to go be-
fore Congress this winter and urge the
passage of an anti-lynchins law, and if
| this Is secured to make an appeal to the
! legislatures of the several states for the
enactment Of similar legislation.
Resolutions Adopted.
Mfr. Thomas L. Jones submitted the fol-
| lowing preamble and resolutions, which
| were unanimously adopted:
| Whereas the foul spirit of mob violence
! and lynch law is becoming so prevalent
and has assumed such alarming propor-
tionS IN this country as to make it imposSi-
| BILE for many individuals charged with
| crime to be permitted to enjoy an impair
| tial trial according to the provisions of tine
national Constitution, which should be held
| inviolate: and
| Whereas 1t is destructive of popular lib
| erty and a menace to our government and
| it's institutions. As well as to the best in
! terests Of the life, liberty and property of
| American citizens, to permit its further
| liberation in any portion of this country,
| whether the victim be white or black; and
Whereas the public press. the two great
! political parties and the white ministry of
this country have been slow to denounce
these crimes as foul blots upon our nation
| al escutcheon and harbingers of revolu-
| ton. anarchy and a subversion Of the re-
| public;
| Therefore, be it resolved, That We as
! American citizens in mass meeting assem-
bled, do derounce and condemn these
| lynchings as inhuman. barbarous and un-
| American. and foreign to the principles
| of our government. which rests upon the
| sure foundations Of law and order
| BE 1t further resolved. That We call up
on the entire pulpit, the public press and
| the lovers Of liberty. OF home and of gov
! ernment throughout the republic to join us
| in this effort to eXterminate this growing
| evil of lawlessness in this country, 10 the
| end that government may be saved
and the rights Of life, liberty and property
| be as our fathers intended them to be-the
common heritage Of all
| What MI. Jones Said.
| Before the vote was taken on the adop-
| tion of the resolutions. Mr. Jones said:
| "In meeting here tonight to denounce
| lynch law and mob violence. let 1t be un-
| derstood that we come not as colored men
4
| fense Of the citizens and to preserve our
| government against the forces of anarchy,
| outrage and lawlessness. which are under
| mining the fabric o. Law and order. which
| Is the Gibraltar OF the nations hope and
the sheet anchor of all our liberties. In
| our efforts to arrest the progress Of crime
and lawlessnass In this country and to ad
vocate the right of all men to be tried by
law when charged with crime. We are act
uate1 by the most exalted spirit OF patriot
! ism and the broadest principles of human
ity. for we recognize the fact that what
| ever tends to destroy our social and politi-
cal system and to endanger the stability
and perpetuity Of our government, which is
founded upon law. is equally perncous in
! Its destruction Of the negroes rights, ii
| IS the rights OF cur Anglo-SaXon brethren.
Then why should It be thought strange
| that the negro should be foremost in de-
nouncing that which he knows to be sub
/ versive of justice and has for It's ohjact the
destruction Of government which we
have given $4,000 brave soldiers to de-
fend: 1t is n sad commentary upon our
| Christian civilization that the spirit OF law
lessness has beea, allowed to assume such
stupendcus proportions.
Mr.. r. s. Tharln. president of the Pro-
American Alliance, who was introduced by
Prof I.angston, after referring TO the way