San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-07-04
.DISPASSl0NATE REVIEW OF THE
TERRIBLE CAUCUS EXER-
CISING A CRIME.
Where The Happiness Of Household
And HearthStOne Is AT Stake
Georgia Defenders Of
The Law Become Its
ApOlOgists
SPECIAL Wire to Sunday Light.

SPECIAL Wire to Sunday Light.
Atlanta, Ca, July BIN the Georgia
bar association meeting today a singu-
lar spectacle was presented of the most
distinguished lawyers of the state Civ
ing their endorsement to lynch law.
The symposium was led by Hon. Hal
Lewis, known all over the union as
| having nominated Bryan in the Chica-
go convention, who said: 'Lynchings
| in Georgia are almost invariably the
result of horrible outrages perpetrated
| upon helpless and defenseless women.
Is 1t because the people are spperehen-
sive that such a culprit with the proof
of guilt would escape punishment, IL
left in the custody of the law? No one
doubts that under our system as it
stands, his conviction would be as
sured. Is 1t because an unreasonable
delay in the trial and execution is APP
pretended? No one doubts the readi-
ness of any judge in Georgia to call
special term of court in such cases
whenever the welfare of society de-
mands it. Is 1t because of an unusual
spirit of lawlessness among white peo-
pie in Georgia, that they perpetrate or
permit mob violence? 1 dare say that
the criminal record of this class of her
people will compare favorably with
that of any state or nation on the
globe. Why then is lynch law more
frequently practiced here than in the
north and east? 1t is because the crime
TO which we have referred is more
frequent here and the danger of its
preparation greater. He that suppos-
es this evil can be corrected by legisla-
ton simply does not understand and
appreciate the situation especially in
our rural districts. This crime is
committed by a negro and strange to
say he selects white victim, as if his
brutal passion was fired with an ele-
ment Of malignity against the Caucas-
fan race. The laboring farmer often
has to leave his wife and children at
home beyond the call of neighbors or
reach of help. When the news of out
rage spreads every man within reach
of it's influence takes it home to him
self, not knowing when the happiness
of his home may be forever blighted
by an injury more fearful than death.
The Anglo-Saxon blood that courses
through MS veins Is lnIdfne 10
white heat. He reasons that such
criminal at large is more to be dread
ed than the most ferocious beast that
ever roamed the forest; that he places
himself beyond the pale of law, and is
not entitled to the benefit either OF law
or clergy. He is lynched because his
victim should be not allowed further
humiliation of detailing crime which
she can hardly whisper to her hus-
band or breathe to her parents. He is
lynched because of the conviction in
the public mind that this is a more eff
fectual way of preventing repetitions.
He is lynched not because the lynch
ers have less regard for law and or
der, but because they have more con-
Germ for the sanctity Of home and the
protection of it's inmates. To attempt
correction of such a statement by
statute would prove as futile as an eff
fort to overcome the fury of the cyclone
or prevent the lightning flashes from
the storm cloud"
These sentiments were endorsed
practically unanimously. and only call
ed for one spirited speech on the 9TH
er side.