The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-12-27

rest Of the world did not amount to apv.
'hihg In particular II was stupid,
=. was at the very perihelion OF his love
snae Eihott harding. fired by lofty pur,
ptse' made thrilling speech on the o,,ss.
| tion of lynching. ""es
am well aware" he said. "tbat IN
uvucnins upon this point | am woundinp
.ne sensiDilities of a people who have been
snauowed by personal injury and embit,
tered by natural race prejudice. but
ieei mat can speak the more boldly be-
cause touch the matter not as an alien
whose sympathies are foreign and whosa
tne0Iies are theoretical chmeras. but as a
| southerner; one whose interest is IN,
stronger because he is Southerner. NV
audience may refuse TO grant the Justice of
my argument, but 1t must admit the truth
OF the situation outline. Whichever WAY
we turn the tremendous problem of the
iynching evil stares us In the face. II
baits u.s. 1t defies us, 1t shames us.
Think of it, More than one thousand
human lives forfeited to Judge Lynch from
the South's record for the past ten years.
What horrible record Ii seems almost
incredible that such lawlessness can ex :
list in communities supposed TO be civil
lied. Would to God it were but an evil
dream and that I could today assure the
world that this terrible condition is but
the unfounded imagining OF nightmareti
mind.
"Lynching Is a peculiarly revolving form
OF murder. and to tolerate II is to pave he
way for anarchy and barbarism, 1t can moi
be truthfully denied that one OF the most
potent factors initiating against the prog
ress Of this country is this frequent resort
TO illegal execution. and before we can
realize the full benefits of your natural in
heritance. your laws--our laws-must he
m rtinlly
tected and life sacredly guarded by rigid
legal enforcement backed by an elevated
public conception of duty.
ut is no greater crime for one man 10
seize brother and take his life than It
is for a lawless multitude to do the same
act. The first, II there will be any differ
ence, is less criminal than the latter tor
1t. at least the act often has the merit of
individual courage and the plea for re-
venge is on the ground of personal injury.
But when man Is deprived of his lib
erty by Incarceration in the iail and thus
shorn OF his power Of self protection. 1t
Is the acme OF dishonor and cowardice to
wrest him from the grasp of the law and
deprive him of his life upon evidence that
possibly might not convict him before a
jury
Il do not wish 10 be understood as saving
that brave and good men do not sometimes
under strong excitement participate In this
outrage against human rights and organ
lied society. for 1t Is fact that such re-
bellions are not infreuuently led by the
most prominent citizens, and from this
very fact it is the moro to be deplored."
The spellbound audience applauded vo-
clferously, but there is no record denoting
their conviction of the truth OF his re-
marks. But Southerners are courteous as
A tttlo Harding Vad a
full need of praise.
Shortly afterwards Elliott Harding starts
on journey to the North. Then suddenly
like fash of lightning the bolt falls
Dorothy Carr is found brutally inhuman-
" murdered. of this Miss kiyes says;
THE news flashed over the country as II
by the lightning's spark. and by o'clock
the district was aroused TO state of
freizied passion. From near and far they
gathered 10 the stricken home. till in an
hour mob had assembled. vowing torture
and death to the fiend. a brief question
ing revealed the fact that the Cars cook
had seen negro man bass the kitchen
door about dusk. who asked for drink
OF water. She would know him again. she
said.
"A fierce yell rent the silence as Holmes
told of the fleeing man. and grim curses
filled the air followed by the thunder OF
hoofbeats as the horsemen dashed away in
pursuit. On they rode through re dark
ness, galloplng where the way was clear.
and everywhere and al all times urging
their horses at their utmost, every minute
pressing forward with increasing rage and
recklessness. Uphill. downhill. the searcn-
ers went securing every nook and corner
for miles around. Their painting horses
needed not TO be urged. They seemed 10
have caught the same fierce Spirit that
inspired their riders. their straining nus
clos and distented nostrils telling OF their
eagerness and exertion.
THE night was going, but the searchers
has as vet found no trace. II the earth
Ind onened up and swallowed the one they
sought the mystery OF his disappearance
could not have been greater.
Then the luIid panorama OF armed posses,
night hunt with bloodhounds and the
final running down of Cooley. the negro
school teacher, passes swiftly before the
rsader's gaze After hard and stormy
race with the pursuers. the sherin lanus
his prisoner safely behind bars ana me
mob besieges the Jail. clamoring LOT LIS
life. .,nv
Elijctf Harding arrives. Half an hour
before" saws the book. Elliott has been
in delicious reveric. RAISING what were
uerhaps the sweetest n onents OF ms IRE
aHe had awakened early from a dream;
He had dreamed that he felt the touch VI
soft fingers upon his cheek. and the beat
ing of a loving heart against his, ana inc
OF the ecstasy fingered nke sone
charmed spell Dorothy was his very own.
Dorothy. crowned with the beauty whtch
combined all OF the woman and all OF the
angel He saw nothing In the woriu save
her radiant face. He praised God for CIV
Ing him her love and the hope OF preserv-
ing that nearest likeness on enrtn 70
haaven--a home. This sweet foretokening
Of life's full ripe completeness bad niied
lis heart.
Joyous. enraptured. yonng. he had step
ned upon the railway platform at George,
town. From such thoughts to the yivio
scene at the isil was an abrupt and via
plunge into a whirling abysm. His nina
sas in turmoil. and he felt the need oi
cooling air and brisk movement TO regain
his composure."
He secs the mob. hears the clamor ana
notes the frenzied preparations for lynch
ny. With no hint OF the dreadful truth
e forces his way TO the front and pleads
'or order Reeoguized as the sutton 81 the