New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-07-19
JUDGE LYNCH'S PROCEDURE.

Inc lFncDlnS mil continues 10 grlllu out It's
grist Of wanton horror. Two Alabama mobs n
few days ago killed two negroes for the usual
crime a course coming TO he accepted as
regular method of criminal procedure in that
region and to be passed over with slight com
ment elsewhere. Yesterdays dispatches brought
the natural sequel to one Of these popular exc
cutons.
A negro preacher had found it in his black
heart 20 take pity on wretch OF his own race
and had tried TO hide him from rlOtous ven
geance and secure him chance for legal trial.
He did not succeed. The crowd caught It's vic
tim and burned him. but its thirst was unsats-
fed. so II determined to safe itself on the
preacher. He took refuge In the cabin of an
old negro woman, bu; was finally captured 1t
is now said 1t WINS only intended TO whip him.
Unfortunately. he did not realize that he was
only going to be half murdered. instead of killed
outright. and sought to escape. Such lack or
confidence enraged his captors They stamped
him nearly to death. They hung him up. They
filed his body with bullets. Then they ccle-
brated by burning his corpse. Still they were
not satisfied The old woman still lived who
had sheltered her pastor when he was hiding
for shelterng the original victim. Now. rever-
ence for woman is a well-known characteristic
of Alabama chivary. SO the mob did not burn
her They only dragged her into the woods and
whipped her, the telegram says severely"
term easily interpreted when applied to the
action Of mob which tramples people TO death
who do not take kindly to its chastiscment.
Negroes are said to prefer hanging TO thai sort
of whipping. Probably the preacher was more
lucky than the woman. He only died. Her
sufferings were more nearly akin to those of the
original victim whose wrongs the mob pre-
tended to avenge.
Thus, in q widening circle unto the third and
fourth generations as we may say. Of those who
enrage It does popular passion visit its fury.
The apologists for lynch law defend il as
necessary instrument for stamping out an afro
clous vein Of barbarism in negro nature. but 1t
Is used as often to stamp out the life of some
poor fellow who, like the preacher. responds
only TO the plying instinct of humanity. Aside
from the fact perfectly apparent, that lynch
Ing is not having its pretended curative effect.
but is rather driving the negro to reckless In
diligence in violence the influence of the prac-
tice on the whites themselves Is alarming. The
passion for blood let loose does not calm itself
with melting out rude justice. Then 1t Is only
aroused One victim does not safe It, 1t must
wreak itself on everybody who arouses its
resentment until the fever has passed Off. SO
we see the preacher killed and the woman tort
ured in Alabama, a sheriff and a militia captain
fleeing for their lives in Ohio and q Governor
threatened for protecting a man who defended
his house against attack in Kentucky. Soon
we may hear the mob demanding the lives or
those who crticise their deeds.
1t is an old story, and the evil is easier to dis
sect than to cure, but cured 1t must be before
long or the hoOdlum and bully will be our mas
ters These deeds are credited TO leading citi-
Zens SO much the worse. If leading citizens
convert themselves by hundreds into barbarlanS
the roughs will not long keep order. If the
solid planters OF the country and the solid busl-
ness men Of the towns show the way, they may
EXPECT the worthless, who always love disorder,
to learn the lesson and practise 1t on them.
Despotism is fine country but there Is no road
ont Of It, says an old Greek proverb and 1t Is
nowhere more emphatically true than OF the
despOtlsm OF the mob. The disorder ever in
creases. The lynchers start ont to avenge one
crime on one person and end by bringing death
or injury often 70 n dozen. Frequently they
stir I'D race war. Then they wonder Mt the
turbulence Of the negro. They whip and torture
poor old women: and then they swell with pride
as they proclaim their reverence for woman
hood.