The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1897-10-12
HOW TO PREVENT LYNCHINGs.
An Educated Negroes Views on the
southern Problem-He seeks TO
Restore the Sense of Security
Which White Women Felt Fifty
Eeara Aun

Times.
NASHVILLE, Tenn, October AT
this time, when public attention ia
directed to the discussion of the lynch
ing problem, which is now being con-
Quoted in nearly every large daily
newspaper in the Southern States, It
is somewhat refreshing to lear what
the educated negro has to say, and to
learn just what attitude he will assume.
Prof. w. II. Council, president of the
Agricultural n Mechanical College
for Negroes, located at Normal, Ala
bama, distinguished himself u few
days ago by giving expression to senti-
ments which at first sounded unusual,
and called forth a food of criticism
from a certain class of colored men
from the North, who were attending
the Tennessee Centennial at Nash
vile, but were afterward received by
the press as q most digniicd and
helpful contribution to the negro pro-
blem.
Prof. Council is one Of the most
eminent negro scholars in the United
States, and is favorably known
throughout Europe. During his re-
cent travels abroad he was very
graciously entertained by the Rev.
Charles Leach, d. D., the Hon. Will
liam b. Gladstone and his Majesty,
King Leopold. His position in the
State Of Alabama is one of dignity,
responsibility, influence and great
responsibility, by reason of his judicious
and successful management of one of
the largest educational institutions in
the South. He certainly merits the
utmost cor tidence of all fair-miuded
men and women, who respect the senti-
ments of an honorable and upright
citizen.
A large lumber of representative
colOred men, from all sections of the
country, had gathered at Nashville to
hold q conference for the purpose of
giving all questions affecting the
negro race careful consideration.
Prof. Councill was elected chairman,
and In opening the conference, which
was termed "a Negro Council" he
made a speech that created u decided
sensation in the Southern States. Only
q few days ago Mrs. w Fl. FELTON,, a
Southern white lady, delivered an
address before the State Agricultural
Society at Gainesville, Ca, in which
she made an earnest appeal to what is
regarded, even by her own friends. as
the very worst passions OF men. She
recommended the continued assassina-
ton OF negroes who are suspected of
the crime Of having committed as
saults upon white women. She EN-
phasized the Importance Of immediate
apprehension and punishment in all
cases OF negro men assaulting white
women-but she had not the fairness
to mention any other cases.
AS regards the position taken by
Prof. Council, this cannot be said :;
he evidences a liberalism that is a
compliment to his training. The
Atlanta (Ga.) Constitution, the Louis
Vile (ky.) Courier-Journal. the Daily
, Mercury, Of Huntsville, Ala, and q
great number of other newspapers
have had nothing but commentators
, for Mr.. Council. 1t is no disparage-
. ment nor discredit to the cultured,
[ well-educated and more pros
element OF colored citizens to say that
the depraved and ignorant class among
them must be lifted up morally and
intellectually before hat class can ap.
Q p~reciate the wisdom of men like Mr..
Council. In his eloquent address he
said in part:
THE deep religious sense, the un-
S swerving fidelity and Industrious hand,
the gentle, bloodless spirit of our
fathers, coupled with the Anglo.Saxon
grit, intellectually and respect for
nobility of soul, did much to overcome
8 prejudice, soften .asperities, and have
/ transmitted to us a rich legacy of char.
acter and reputation of which angels
r might we'll be proud. Let us guard the
! record of our fathers by making our
lives a willing sacrifice on the affairs
Of truth and virtue.
I'm this connection urge this coun-
! Gil of negroes to speak out in 40 un-
g certain tones against outrages com
mitted against the honor OF woman re-
CARELESS OF race or color, and against
| lawlessness of every kind. Let us hurl
+ all the powers OF u being against the
fiend, who, in violation of Gods hottest
o law, and contrary to the laws of the
land, whether by physical force or in
trigue robe woman OF the most precious
jewel given by Heaven to earth. The
frequency Of violence to women is
d alarming. We cannot nov stop 70 argue
the nice points as to the cause OF the
committing Of these i%ncaruate fiends
into a race hitherto with absolute i'm
munity from them. Nor have We time
to plead that they are not the trusted
l servants flour Southern homes, nor can
3 we stop to appeal from Judge Lynch to
the majesty of the civil law, but we must
stamp out the crime. Sufficient for us
q to know hat these crimes are some
8 times committed by negroes, to make
us hang our heads in shame and 90 in
Y sackcloth and ashes.
Let us restore that sense of ecurity
which white women felt fifty years ago
In the presence OF our fathers under
! any circumstances amid the most for
, bidding environments. We must make
the humblest white woman in the re-
hottest and widest part of our country
feel as safe in the presence OF a me-
) gro man as angelic Eva" did alone
with her "Uncle Tom" Let us
} make the white woman of this land
and of all lands feel hat our black arms
are ever ready, backed by hearts as
pure as truth, as g~uileless as babes, to
defend their honOr-that we are will
ing to throw our black bodies between
them and their assailants, and shed our
blood to the last drop In protecting
them, n hunting down and executing
these brutes In human form.
TELL 1t out so that all the world NAV
hear-print it in the heavens blue so
that he h runs may fead-that the
negroes In this land will frown down,
cry down, hunt down and strike down
this crime and these criminals, until
not me shall be left In all the land, and
q black face shall be q badge OF truth.
OF peace, of protection to innocence.
know that these criminals do not form
a part of our audiences, congregations,
schools, social gatherings, or Industrial
communities, and yet 1t Is our duty to
seek their haunts, and the Influences
which produce crime and criminals,
and with a whip Of the, law and the
gospel of righteousness, scourge them