The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-07-30
REMEDYFOR LYNCHING.
Colored Men Forward an Appeal to
the President

Charleston, July 30.-The National Pro-
| tective associat ion of colored men, which
was put on foot by ex-Congressman
| George Washington Murray of South Car
| DINA, is hard at work with it's self-impos-
ed mission of ameliorating the condition
of the colored people. Every week in
some portions of the country meetings are
held under it's auspices, and new con-
verts added to its ranks. This organiza-
ton proposes to speak in plain words to
both the colored and white people on the
subject of lynching.
An address is in preparation which tells
the race that the speediest way to pre-
vent lynchings is to get rid of the cause
that makes such outrages possible. This
side of the question will be brought di-
rectly to all classes of the colored people,
and in all parts of the country, through
the medium of their churches, Sabbath
schools and societies. In addition to this
the state legislatures will be asked at
every session to pass laws, not only to
punish persons guilty of the crime of
lynching, but also to indemnify the fami-
lies of persons lynched.
One of the officers of the body, DR.. J.
N. Johnson of Texas, has given for pub
LEGATION a copy of an appeal, which he
sent to President Mckinley.
Among other things the document says:
Concerning the matter of lynchings
and other species of outlawry, habitually
practiced upon members of my race,
which subject was embraced in a recent
communication addressed to your excel
lency a few days since. and upon which
your petitioner invited to this inter
view, we would say that although the
Republican platform contains a declara-
ton against that species of outlawry
known as lynching, and your excellency
repeated more at length the same senti-
ment in your inaugural address, we are
aware that neither can the executive nor
the congress interfere directly to remedy
this evil, because of the constitutional
limits of the powers of the executive and
the congress and the sovereignty of the
respective states within certain consti-
tutionaI limita ton.
''The courts constitute the only proper
machinery for settling all controversies
between man and man that cannot be set
tied by simple means. Under present I'M
fair customs all controversies are settled
by and at the behest of one race alone
however dear our interests, involving life,
liberty, or property, and whatever and
however great the prejudices involved
The conflicts, civil and criminal between
individuals of the two races in the courts
resulting in frequent death penalties, life
or long term sentences, or heavy fines for
negroes, with corresponding favoritism
shown to whites by the courts, wherein
thousands of negroes are unjustly robbed
of their lives and liberty, and millions in
money are unjustly taken from the peck
cts of my unfortunate race by way of
fines, is the strongest condemnation
against system of unfair trials of our
millions of defenseless negroes which has
lasted so long and against which we could
offer no resistance, until it has gradually
paved the way by successive steps to the
present condition of no trial at all for me-
groes or a system known as lynching, or
mobbing, or White-capping.'