The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-07-04
ENDORSES LYNCH LAW,
GEORGIA BAR ASSOCIATION DEALS
WITH THE QUESTION.
Hon. Hal II. Lewis Makes Spirited
Speech In Favor of Judge
Lynch.

| Atlanta, Ga, July Sin the Georgia Bar
association meeting the singular spectacle
was presented of the most distinguished
ment ia lynch law The symposium was
! led by Hon. Hal r. Lewis known all over
tho Union as having nominated Mr.. Bry-
! an In the Chicago convention. who said:
| 'Lyuchings in Georgia are almost in
variaby the result OF horrible outuges
perpetrated upon helpless and defenseless
women. is 1t because the people are APP
prehensive that such q culprit. with proof
OF guilt. would escape punishment II left
IN the custody of the law? No ono doubts
that under our syetem as IL stands his
| conviction would be assured. Is 1t be-
cause an unreasonable delay in trial and
execution is appnehonded2 No one doubts
the readiness of any Judge in Georgia TO
call special term OF court IN such cases
whenever tho welfare of society demands
IL. Is IL because of an unusual spirit OF
lawlessncss among tho white people of
Georgia that they perpetrate or permit
mob violence? | dare say that the Grim
inal record OF this class of her people VIII
compare favorably with that Of any State
or nation on the globe.
why, then Is lynch law moro fire.
quently practiccd here than in the North
aud West? 1t Is because the crime to which
We have referred is more frequent here,
and the danger of It's preparation greater.
iio that supposes this evil can be cor
rectod by legislation simply does not I'M
derstand and appreciate the situation, es-
pecially in our rural districts. This crime
Is committed by tho negro. and, strange
to say, he selects white victim, as II his
brutal passion was fired with an element
OF malignlty against the Caucasian race.
"Tho laboring farmer often has to leave
his VITO and children at home beyond call
OF neighbors or reach OF help. When the
news OF the outrage spreads. every man
within the reach OF It's influence takes It
homo to himself. not knowing when the
happiness of his homo circle may he for
ever blghted by an injury more fearful
than death. The Anglo Saxon blood that
courses through his veins is inflamod to
white heat. He reasons that such Il Grim
inal at large rs more to be dreaded than
the most ferocious beast that ever roained
the FOREST. that he places himself beyond
the pale OF the law and is not entitled To
the benefit OF either law or clergy.
He in lynched because his victim
should not DO allowed the further humili-
alton OF detailing crime which she can
h"u'S Mh'Si'i w hu'f h"spuh. VI p'S"'"S
TO her parents. He is lynched because OF
the conviction in the public mind that this
is the most efiectual way OF preventing n
repetition of the offense. He is lynched
not because lynchers have leEs regard for
law and order, but because they have
more concern for the sancuty Of home
and tho protection OF Its inmates. To
attempt correction Of such a sentiment
by statute would provo ms futile as an
EFFORT to overcome the fury OF the cyclone
or to prevent the lightning flashes from
the stormcloud."
These sentiments were Endorsed by such
men as Colonel Thomas, Hon. w. G. Glenn
and others. and only called for one spirit
ed speech on the other side. from Colonel
~. j. Hammond, formerly member Of con-
gress from tho Atlanta district.