Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-07-22
VOICES OF THE PRESS.
Judge Lynch's Procedure.

The lynchlng mill continues To grind out
it, crist of Wanton horror. TWO Ala
hama nlobs few days ago Killed TWO ne
srroes for the usual crime, Il course
coming to he accepted as Il regular meth
cd of criminal procedure in that region
and to be passed over VITA slight com
meut elsewhere. Yesterdays dispatches
brought the natural sequel % one of these
popular executions.
4 negro preacher had found /. in his
black heart To take pity on a wretch of
his own race and had tried 10 hide him
from riotous vengeance and secure him Il
chance for a legal trial. He did not sue
seed The crowd caught its victim and
burued him, but its thirst was unsatiS-
fed SO ii determined to safe itself on the
preacher. He took refuge in the cabin of
an old negro woman, bat was finally cap
iured. 1t is now said ii was only intend
ed to whip him. Unfortunately. he did
not realize that he was only going 10 be
half-murdered. instead Of killed outright,
and sought 10 escape Such lack of con-
fdenee enrlged his captors. They
stamped him nearly to death They hung
him up They filled his body with bull
let's Then they celebrated by burning
his corpse. Still they were not satisfied.
The old woman still lived who had shell
tered her pastor when he WAS hiding for
sheitering the original victim. Now, rev
.rence for woman is a well-known chat
actenstic Of Alabama chivdlry. So the
mob did not burn her. They only dragged
her INTO the woods ana whipped UeT. lut
telegram says Severely" term easily
Interpreted when applied TO the action of
a mob which tr;tfnples people 10 death who
90 not take kindly to its chastisement.
Negroes are said to prefer hanging to
that sort of whipping. Probably the
preacher was more lucky than the w0m-
an He only died. Her sufferings were
mora nearly akin to those of the original
victim whose wrongs the mob pretended
10 aVengc.
Thus. in widening circle unto the third
and fourth generations, as we may say,
of those who enrage it does popular pas-
sion visit It's fury. The apologlsts for
lynca law defend it as a necessary instfn-
inent Cor stamping out an airocious vein
Of barbarism IN negro nature, nut it Is
used as often to stamp out the life oil
some poor fellow who, like the preacher.
responds only to the plying instinct of
humanity. Aside from the fact, perfectly
apparent that lynchng is not having its
pretended curative effect but is rather
driving the negro TO reckless indulgence
In violence, The influence Of the practice
ON the whites themselves is alarming
The passion for blood let loose does not
calm itself with melting out rude justice
Then il is only aroused. One victim does
not safe it, 1t must wroak itself on ev-
eryhudy who arouSes is resentment until
4he fever has passed off. So see the
preacher killed and the woman tortured
in Alabama a sheriff and a militia cap
tain fleeing for their lives in Ohio, and a
governor threatened for protecting a
man who defended his house against at
tack in Kentucky soon we may hear
the mob demanding the lives Of those
who crlticise their deeds.
1t is an old story. and the evil is easier
to diSsect than to cure. but cured Il mus
be before long or the hOndlum and bully
will be lr masters. These deeds are ae-
credited TO leading citi2 MS. SO much the
worse. If lead ny citizens convert them
selves by hundreds into harbarians the