The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-07-19

to u'obeed ''p. d. O." In this expression
human nature crcis out pretty strong.
As long rs 1t Is somebody else We feel
Inclined TO let tho law take it's course
but when the hogrid crime is perpetrated
| In our own household with all our sn,i NO
can upon our neighbours TO help lynch the
brute. This Is the feeling OF the individual,
| ana what IS mob but number Of in-
| ulVliuals Of like feeling and impulses?
Now when ono OF these heinous crimes
mas Deen committed and the perpstfator
been iynched and the lynchers brought 10
trial canvass public sentiment as to
whether they should be punished. and the
average juryman will say. "lf | were on
! the jury ia such a case would not hang
good man for lynching such brute
Nerdicts are generally the echo of pub
lie sentiment. The jurors are drawn from
the public, and who are individually pos
sessel OF that sentiment. No Jury with
such sentiments will convict. suppose you
| change the venue and try in county not
excited by the crime. Human nature IS
| the same the world over. and on proof Of
the facts the result Of the trial viii be
the same.
1t is not my purpose TO Justify lynchings,
nor 20 condemn them. but TO simply state
stubborn facts and conditions that always
have and always will prove i1sumountaLle
barriers TO convictions III such cases.
Some offensea are. by common consent
beyond the pale Of the law II the aftec-
lions of mans wife are alipnated hv an
other and he is slain by the husband. who
ever heard Of the slayer conviction? And
yet, In law II is as much murder as in
the case q lynching. But short time
since judge in Louisiana announced from
the bench In trying such case that GUS
tom and tradition in the South had given
the right TO slay in such cases the force
OF law. II IS sort OF bill Of rights that is
higher than the constitution and laws
NOW, the same public sentiment that
protects the husband is a powerful factor
IN tho case Of assaults upon women.
VOL, 10 Use common but expressive
pnreSc, what are We going 70 do about Il?
II can not be prevented by legislation. and
all We can hope to do IS to restrain. cou-
troll or mitigate the evil. in my opinion,
BY legislation on the following lines: Pass
a law clearly defining certain heinous or.
lenses 10 he affected by the law. When
one OF the defined crimes has been com
Uitted and the perpetrator lynched arrest
and try the lyrchcrs as in other oftenses
except that the only issue tried shall he
Was the party lynchel guilty of the Of
fonse charged against him And on salts
factory proof that ne was that the lyuchers
be discharged or acquitted.
Now when mob assemblies there are
always some men more leyel-heaaed and
cautious Than others. The mob does not
desire to punish an innocent man. which
Is the one great danger IN lynch law. Now
If there Is q safe course open to the mob
the more thoughtful OF them VIII say.
Boys, there is way in which we can
hang the man end he projected ourselves
from punishment. II We hang him on evi-
Gcnce that would satisfy n court and jury
We VIII not he punished but should we
fail TO have this evidence on our trial we
Will be punished" This Will bring them 10
act more cautiously. and greatly lessen
the danger Of furnishing an innocent party
J. will becet delay. and every moments
delay Is 20 The benefit az the victim. In
any event the law fails 10 condemn n
man for doing that which The law would
have dore. If he had declared that .he evil
dencc was sufficient 20 convict.
Perhaps Il might he implied from what
have said that favor lynch law. will
say this much faS eNrressive Of my In
dividual sentiments that n these he!nnus
crimes. published 50 frequently in Tho
Post. can only tc stopred by lynch law,
then I say lynch all such brntes, white or
black
Theec crimes arc becoming 70 frequent
and 50 horribly brutal that tho sentiment
EXPRESSED. II not already prevalent viii
soon become 50. Lot the Jaw reign fn-
rreme hut " II can not protect our NO
mon and llitlc pirls from negro hrutes. let
the people protect them even to lvnchins-
''' r W MOrrigs