The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-08-03
.Uhe Wessenger.
RAPES AND LYNCHINGS.

- ed upon Wnlte WOfueus SoAue VI AAo0
cial rank, in the south within two
weeks than perhaps at any previous
period in the history OF the south. The
preachers preach against l~ynchings;
the nou ~lynchings;
the negroes in the north pass resolu-
lions condemning lynchings; the ne
groes in some parts OF the south defend
the rapists, and the negro religious
bodies pass resolutions against lynch
ing and still he lynchings continue.
Why? Northern writer's say that it is
because society is being resolved into
its original elements and chaos is 20 the
front in the south. That does not ex-
plain or account for the ~lynchings-for
the repetition of lynchings in such rapid
order. The reason why lynchings are
fierce and frequent is not far away.
Just before you read Of a lynching, you
read Of some awful crime against some
pure virtuous white woman. maid or
wife. Every lynching is almost in
variably preceded by some devilish
crime against some helpless white V.o-
man. Let the devils cease their work and
the hangings will cease The records of
the last few weeks Of rapes in the south
are indeed black with villainy, lust and
death. One scoundrel after accomplish
ing his Internal work, murdered the
young girl and tied her to a tree. An
other devil beat his victim as she lay
helpless or the bed and sought to burn
her up. She died, but not before she
ia Who was the devil who murdered
Ter. The rapes or attempted outrages
d. not confined to one state. Virginia
=. II hang a young scamp who tried to
assault one Of the first ladies in Rich
mOnd.
DR.. Ryder, in Georgia, was hanged by
a mob because, as the Georgia papers
all agree, of the laws delay. The peo-
pie were disguised and offended. Ry-
der had most brutaIIy murdered his
sweetheart, and over a year ago, but
h lawyers used every device and
method to stave off punishment. 1t an
gered the people, and worried them to
desperation. The result was they
lynched him. The Augusta News says:
lit ~ Ic1llItS Is III I'LL CSulS III tAhC
new methods of practice that obtain in
the courts Of the land. In Olden times,
before the advent of end of the century
lawyers. DR.. Ryder would have been
placed on trial impartialiy, the merits
of the case thoroughly weighed and
punishment inflicted or freedom given,
as the evidence dictated. Then there
would have been no lynching. Either
outraged justice would have been sati-
fled or the prisoners innocence de-
clared. According to the manner in
which courts and lawyers now work,
DR.. Ryder's case has been carried from
one court to another and postponed
and set back on this and that ground
by we'll paid, smart lawyers until it
really began to look as if the distin-
guished crimina would spend the re-
mainder Of his days a well fed. though
jailed, ward Of the state at large"
There will be no abatement Of lynch
ings until the criminal laws are severely
amended, criminals are convicted, and
without delay or dilatory process.
Quick trial and the enforcement OF
justice, with a sure conviction OF
~scoundrels are what is needed Moth
ing short Of this will satisfy the ends
of justice and give confidence and
security to the people. How can south
ern men feel that life and home are
safe with the damning record of the
last two or three weeks staring them
in the face? What home is sacred and
safe from the brutal invader, hen the
half dozen or more crimes of a few
days are known? In several instances
black brutes entered the houses and
either accomplished their villainy or
were scared away.
Such papers as the New York Even
ing Post will be always snoralizing over
southern savagery. but the Dreadful
deeds of negroes do not shock them or
call out particular denunciatiOn. The
southern barbarities- IN Gaming the
I~ynchings-are. what stir their indig-
nation and wrath of these lo~ng-range
sympathisers with the negroes. So
stirred are the people of Georgia over
some late crimes that l%ynchings are
openly advocated and openly preached.
When a negro was lynched at Griffin.
the mayor said he would have helped
if it had been outside the town limits.
An evening Atlanta paper said in in
dorsing the lynching, do your work in
the broad sunlight of Gods glorious
day time, and hang, yes. burn. every
brute who destroys your home" That
shows how deeply men are being
aroused at the frequency and diabolism
of recent crimes against the white wo-
men. The Anglo-Saxons are resolved
to protect their homes, n hence they
will do it openly and promptly.
There is not a good citizen of either
race in the south who desires mob law.
There is not one who does not deplore
mob law. But if the courts are power
less, if the laws now are insufficient, on