Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1898-08-20
THE LYNOHERs' FRENZY.

| The Richmond, Va, TIMES is certain
ly right on the lynching question. 1t
, is positive source of qualification to
read its clear cut sentences and COW
vincing logic as it pleads for the m al
esty OF the law. We would to God that
| it was equally as correct upon all 9TH
er questions. But let US be thankful
for small favors.
1t will sooner or later find out that
injustice for the colored man will
bring injustice to the white one, just
as the lynching OF the colored man has
brought about lynching Of the white
one.
the 18th inst. 1t SAYS:
1.-The lynchers have been holding
high carnival In the State of Arkansas,
and this time not only men. but wom-
en-. have fallen victims to the fury OF
the mob. Nor were they executed for
the usual crime but. five per ;,
any process OF law. were taken by t's
mob ard sammarily deprived of their
life, upon the charge of murder, either
as principals or accessories"
what can be said in Justification o.
such an outrage What possible good
has been accomplished ? Will any
reaso nable man contend that the peace
and order, of Arkansas have been pro-
NOTED by this lawless act of ven
geance ? What can they say who hold
that lyHching is justifiable in some
cases, but not in others Facts are
very stubborn things, and we must
deal with them as they are. Once adj
NIT that lynching is justitiable under
any circumstances, and in whatever
community that sentiment prevails
there will be lynchings for other
crimes whenever the mob feel so in
clined. There have been numerous
lynchings for ordinary robberies-"
And sgsin:>
"Thoss who advocate lynching lose
sight of this great principle. The law
is not executed in spirit of revengs,
its great purpose is to deter evil doers,
not so much by the fear of punishment
as by elevatiug the moral standard,
by creating a healthy sentiment in be-
half of law and order. The law of
man, like the law OF God, is designed
to inculcate the lesson of obedience
and to make men obey as a duty
|
than through the fear of it. We shall
fall far short of the sublimity and mai
esty of the law, both divine and hu-
man. il we overlook that fact"
In the above. the TINES has summed
up that which is really the quintes-
cence of all that is divine in the uni.
verse.
1t continues:
"But is it possible that lynching can
inculcate such lessons lie it possible
that lawlessuess can prevent lawless-
ness. Far from it. o. the contrary,
mob violence arouses all the old Adam
in man, arouses that spirit of rebel
lion against the lawful authorities
which it would SUPPRESS, and not only
makes the criminal element worse, but
spreads its decentralization broadcast.
As one of our exchanges most APPLY
says, III creates in the lYnchers taste
for lawlessness which inevitably ap-
pear in the future of a community
where these things prevail"
1t drives the nail home" when it
says:
Gin this connection we mention an
other incident, which we commend to
say that every criminal assailant
should be Outlawed and shot down ON
sight. Two OF Virginla's soldiers in
Florida have been arrested charged
with having committed a nameIess as
saHlt upon Negro girl. Is any white
man in Virginia ready to stand up and
say that these two men should be
lynched. or without having a trial that
they should be shot down by
any Negro in Florida who may choose
to use his gun?'
Let the advocates of Iynching an
swer this question squarely.
But then lynchers do not listen to
reason neither do their apologists.
The TIKEs says truly:
"There is but one safe rule. We can
mot discriminate. We must have one
law that shall apply to all, and that
must be the law off land. based upon
our Magma Charta, the Virginia Bill of
Rights. The moment that we suspend
that clause of the Constitution which
guarantees to every man when accused
, of crime fair and impartial trial by a
Jury of his peers, that moment we
trampie law and order under foot and
chaos comes again. The law must be
all things or nothing
The above is the result Of the teach
ings of centuries. 1t is the foundation
stone of the New Testament. Con grant
that others may have their eyes opened
and those who will ot,-be made to
see. Lynch-law must goI