New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-06-25
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
A PLEA FROM URBANA.
ALLEGED MITIGATING CIRCUMSTANCES IN THE
LYNCHING AFFAIR.

ALLEGED MITIGATING CIRCUMSTANCES IN THE
LYNCIING AFFAIR.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.
SIR. No one who lives outside OF Urbaha can
realize the condition Of public sentiment he'e' Au'
ON the other hand, we who live here are mol e'i
tjrely taken by surprise by the denunciatiohs winch
have been heaped upon our heads by the almost
unanimous voice of the press from one emu VI VIC
country to the other. We are, however quite sure
,bo. ~ the hubble knew all the facts OF the horiD"
crime which led to the deplorable scenes OIL Iis'
Friday there would be general concession ''i"'
there were at least pal.iating circumstances
Won NAV ask and very naturally. too, why theso
details have not been made known 10 me ou'siuo
world The simple answer Is that dehedey Vi
feeling toward refined and cultured christian
woman is no: wholly wanting in us. even though
we do not treat a loathsome assaHaH' "a "o
hood too fippant even TO talk oil MS CRIME "'.'
out disgusting l.ghtness. with all that respect whch
the law in effect provides for him IL 'eq"i'eu
several days of prayerfui struggling before the
tortured woman tortured by memory or past
ntrocitv ard tortured, as well, by hideous appre-
tensions OF what II might bring 10 her III inc
future. could bring her lips TO form the WORDS
which should make known her real cohcIlioi! Anu
even then IT largely due TO her knowledge 'ha'
PROMPT and heroic means must be taken TO save
bor from certain terrible consequences that the
words from whloh every womany atom IN her
sou, and body ghrunk from uttering were at last
forced from her with cry Of agony and moan
c. !nsulted outraged. Inundated womGnhood.
This much the world now knows. But atrocious
az the case Is, as made known by these !ntma-
tons the real condition - st!l! worso Inc same
feeling that makes It unspeakingly horrible for Il
refined woman even 10 have her name connected
with such Il crime. though the unwilling resisting
and even dying victim Of the assault extends 10
Us as men. and we shrink from making known all
that occurred. There came clash OF the unWrlt-
ten against tho written law. The officers OF the
inv had sworn duties TO perform; the people were
movrd bv n law written In the heart Even in the
days of their barbarism the GROWING glory al9
saving virtue Of the Teutonic blood was us love OF
reverence for The old strain has not YET
run out The Old spirit moved not by me l0ve OF
mothers. our wives, our sisters and our daugh-
tiers has shown that the old penalty OF the Mosaic
law Is nearer its ideal punishment than the Ohio
statutes. II timorous legislators fear to crystal
lie the true public spirit into law. crash like
this must come. We believe now that the State In
fore. III
events OF the last few days except the thought that
women and children VIII have had an added
safeguard thrown around them When almost name
that the lawmakers evidently considered I'M
possible and there Is therefore no adequate pen
atty TO meet the conditions OF the case the people
are likely to rise and in some startling way show
what the law ought TO be- IT Is terrible thins
starts into action forces that are not wholly held
in check even under the most favorable and peace
full conditions But If better laws shall be given
especially those who have right TO tho tenderest
care and most perfect protection which man can
or in his organized capacity as the State. as the
outcome Of this tragedy. the world VIII be the
right by It's own hand single wrong for which
the law provides even a fairly satisfactory remedy.
It is iaw-abidng' peaceilovng but w3mnn,h0n9r
NJ trbana. Ohio. June T. 1877.