Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-08-02
WAY TO STOP LYNCHINGS
Governors of Three Southern States Give
Their Views.
Atkinson of Georgia, IIlerbe of South
Practically Agree.

The unprecedented number of lynchingS
that have taken place in the south within
the last few months, and the general criti-
cism and discussion that has arisen from
them, prompted the New York Herald to
request several governors of southern
states to give their views as to the causes
of mob violence and to suggest some
remedy for the practice.
Gov. AtkinsOn's Views.
Gov. Atkinson of Georgia said in re-
Spouse: ....
Lynchings in the south have been, with
rare exceptions, exclusively for the offense
of assault. In nearly every instance this
crime is committed by negro on a white
woman The frequent occurrence of the
cffense is due to the increase in the num-
Der of desperate negroes. who regard nei-
Their moral nor municipal law. While
considerable element of the negro race has
greatly improved it's moral, material. intel
lectual and religious status since the eman-
cipation. 1t is unfortunately true that
very great number of them are vastly
worse citizens than thought capable of on
being freed.
These have no conception of morality no
regard for the law or rights of others. Dur
ing slavery. even covering the war period.
when our women were under the protec-
ton of slaves, there were no outrages upon
them. The evil which lynchng is chiefly
intended to exterminate is the direct result
of giving freedom to people who have not
been prepared to assume the responsibility
or discharge the duties of citizens.
While lynching is to be lamented and con-
Gemned and must be stopped, there is no
country in the world, if situated as We are
In the SOUTH which would not now have
the same practice. and would not now have
to solve the same problem which confronts
us. When the press, pulpit and leaders of
thought speak out in unmeasured terms In
condemnation of this abominable practice,
the people will be taught that crime cannot
be exterminated by resort to crime. that
patriotic pride. the preservation of govern
ment their own safety, demand that no
man be deprived of life save by the due
process of law.
Legislation can provide these remedies:
In order to enlist the taxpayers in each
county in preventing lawlessness and IN de-
tectinS and Furnishing criminals, and to DO
justice to the heirs of the party lynched,
the county f. I'M whose officers the party Is
taken and lynched should be liable in dam
ages in sum not less than $1,000. to be re-
covered in suit by the administrators OF
the party lynched.
The governor should be authorized to re-
move from office any arrestinS officer from
whom "A prisoner is taken by a mob when
such officer has failed to do his whole
duty. The law should require the of1icers
having a prisoner in charge. when the mop
attempts to take him from the omcer, 10
arm the prisoner aud give him an equal
chance with the men who seek his lie IN
violation of the law The crime of assault
should be made a capital offense.
..SD.edy Trials" Says Gov. Ellerbe.
Governor F.llerbe of South Carolina said:
I do not think that any crime, no matter
what it may be- justifies lynching. l think
that the remedy is in speedy trials. When
man commits any crime that outrages
neighDorhood. the court should be at once
assembled and an immediate trial had
fasia he 70
PROMPTLY sentenced, and should be executed
without delay. The laws delays are the
prime cause of lynchings in the south. Re-
strictions should be thrown around the
method of appeal. and appeal to su-
erior court should be allowed on technical
titles of the law
Vir.inia's Law Effective.
Governor OFerrall of Virginia said:
There is a deep-rooted determination in
the south. which nothing can eradicate,
that ter women shall he protected from the
lust of villains and that death snail be the
penalty for committing or attempting to
commit that blacklist of all crimes. The
increase of lynch:ngs in the southern states
recently has been caused by the increase
of that crime.
YoI ask me to suggest a remedy for the
practice of lynching. The best l can do is
to r, mmend NirSinia's present plan. which
is. SPEEDY trials. proper protection by the
courts Of the feelings of the unfortunate
victims and the exclusion of all persons not
connected with trials from the court rooms:
prompt convictions. swift justice. death
pc nalty. quick executions, and the free use
OF the military in support of the civil
thoritieS in times of threatened danger of
mob violence.
Nirginia's recent record for law and or
der is unexcelled. From 1850 to 1894 there
were sixty-two lynchings in the state for
various alleged crimes During the last
four years there nave been only two lynch
ings-one for outrage. the other for at
tempted outrage; both negroes both vic
tins white For the same crimes eight
have been hung by due process of law
and two are now under sentence of death;
all colored- The practice of lynching is
reprobated by the people generally and the
spirit is almost entirely stamped out: in the
two cases of mob violence referred to there
vas no excuse and the acts of the mob
were universally condemned
L am glad to say that the better class of
our colored citizens are loud in their de-
nCncfation of the horrible crime which
brings so many of their race to the halter
and are pledging themselves to aid in the
detection and prosecution of all such mis-
CreantS.