Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1897-07-17
AGAINST LYEJHIEG.
A Ringing Letter-Pleads for the Mantle
nance Of the Law.

To the Editor of che PLANET,
Dear Sir:-rhe continued unlaw-
tul taxing the life OF the Negro should
cause men and women TO rise up as
Que man. in open rebellion agSinst the
lynch-law which he's become so pre-
valent l am sure there is not one
true man or women on the face OF
Gods earth would lend their voice or
time to these lynching expeditions.
le rs only the lower element NJ de-
spises the Negro and would rid the
earth OF the whole lot were il in his
power. This lynching faction is
no better than the supposed perpetra-
tors.
There are as much helIi=h spirit
evinced by these mobs as by the poor
condemned wretches Granted that
wnen these crimes are committed they
should be dealt with accoi ding to the
law. If the crime is worthy of death
1t should be melted out to him
The supremacy of the law which is
the will of the majority is attacked
denied and put to shame by such out
RACES.
American citizens make the laws
They must abide by them or Anarchy
will succeed the Republic.
Can not or will not our women. our
men lend voice, hand to help crush
down these oft repeated violations of
the law2
We are dependent upon each for our
preservation, United We stand, Ovid
ed we fall.
Let us follow the example of the
rec mt attempt at lynchinR in Kew
Vest, Fla where the whole town ross
up IN open rebellion, to defend the
condemned victim against the fury Of
mob.
Oh Sisters, let us lend our voice,
our prayers, our aims to the pulling
down of this low WORK of Satan
The spirit and zeal of our courage
Gus John Mitchell, Jr., should incite
in us that desire to blow his example.
whose every breath is in condemna-
ton to these lawless mobs, and who
keeps suspended to a cursed tree
thrice CURSED victims, who are objects
OF envy, malice ard hatred suspend ed
there as often for a supposed injury as
for a real one
Would that Joan de Arc rise up to
lead the fight on to victory. Let some
OF the noble daughters in each section,
who are willing to stamp her disap-
prevail on this wrong, and make an at
tempt to have justice meted out to
our fathers, husbands, sons and broth
ers Call mass-mee tings and devise
sucn plans and methods that are besl
suited for that section, draw up reso-
lutlons and have them sent to the
Governor and President l feel assured
there would some good come from
such an effort.
While / agree with law that deals
with its victims Justly, do not agree
with law that lie not enforced
Homes should be protected Sc
should the lives of men. 1t is also
true that two wrongs do not make one
right.
The crime and its lyncning in Ur-
bana, Ohio, has had no equal in the
history OF the country, not only is il
confined to the South but it's evil eff
feet has spread, northward where race
prejudice was supposed not to be
known. Every city, town, hamlet OF
village that has that blot upon it, viii
he worse than Sodom and Gomorrah
God is going to visit His wrath will
double fury upon them, for he SAYS
Vengeance is mine, will repay"
Again L appeal tn every right think
ing person. Those who love the com
mon welfare of humanity, those es
, pecially who are giving their time ant
! energies to the Hpbuilding of Christ
kingdom rise up and make a dealt
blo.. at this lynch-law, and unite witt
him in his efforts TO crush it unde
= feet. Who says, "Lynch-law mus
Z go?"
Grew. Mrs JAMES II. SMITH,
Ark, Gloucester, Co, Va
, June 9Th, 1897.