The morning news., 1897-07-06
The Lawyers on LynchIng.

throughout the whole of the discussion
of the subject of lynching by the members
of the Georgia Bar Association at Warm
Springs. there was this central idea, that
too much must not be expected of human
nature. There was not one apologist for
the crime of lynching; there was not one
voice raised up in defense of mob law;
every speaker stood for the vindication
of the majesty of the law and of the con-
constitution. Sin there was no attempt
to disguise the fact that it is not always
possible to adhere strictly to the letter
of the law when the crime is of that par
ticular.y heinous character which most
speedily appeals to the mob for vengeance.
Mr.. Justice Baldwin Of the supreme court
Of Connecticut put the matter into nut
shell when he said: II believe the causes
of lynch law lie pretty deep In the human
heart Crimes of personal violence and
indignity committed by the strong
against the weak will always
arouse spirit Of resent
ment against the offender that is impatient
for his immediate punishment, and in the
case Of such crimes it is always difficult
for the friends and neighbors Of the victim
to brook the laws delays"
Some Of the speakers upon the subject
told their auditors to take the case home
to themselves and judge what they would
do under the circumstances; sun their ar
guments were not in defense OF lynching
IL was their purpose to show, as Judge
Baldwin said. that the cause was very
a 4 ia
cult, Il not impossible, for legal enactment
or revision OF court procedure TO eradicate
the practice Of lynching. They wished to
show that the laws delays were not al
together responsible. and that the cure
for lynching Is to eradicate those crimes
which most frequently lead to It,.
This has been the position OF the Morn
Ing News for years. At the same time
however. II has held that reforms in Grim
inal procedure were necessary. ia order to
conserve public confidence in the courts Of
justice. Il Is desirable TO reassure the
people that the courts-the agencies Of the
law-are willing and able to punish crime
| speedily. We have pointed out time and
again, how the code Of criminal procedure
at present OF force favors the criminal
as against the interests OF the people.
The recommendation adopted by the bar
association are in the line OF the reforms
/ which we have urged. Those reforms are.
la brief, that criminal indictments shah
be amendable: that the state and the de-
fendant shall be paced upon equal terms
Ia selecting a jury, and that the defendant
may be made a witness and subjected to
cross examination. IL Is not claimed that
/ these reforms would lead 20 the aboli-
tion OF lynching; but they would unques-
tonab.y do much towards advancing the
ends OF justice. The reforms IN
practice, would diminish the
chances OF the law breakers for slipping
through the loop-holcs OF the statutes
and escaping Just punishment FOR their
sins. They would reduce the excuses which
the mohs have for taking the law into their
own hands They would In an proba-
bilty. make trials more speedy. and the
| outcome OF them'less cnigmatical In the
| face OF strong evidence.
| Meantime the mouIdera of public opinion
must stand by the courts ana the SHERIFF..
and uphold their hands by crying out
against mob violence and seeking to ln-
culoate a healthier public sentiment and
respect for the law.