New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-25
AN EPIDEMIC OF ANARCHY.
THE ALARMING TENDENCY TOWARD THk
INDIscRIMINATE LYNcHING OF Me-
GROES IN THE SOUTH


Sir: II we may imagine our recently defeated az
versary. the naughty Spsniard. gIancins over ths
columns OF an American newspaper OF recent dates
We fancy that even he might be forced 10 acknowi-
edge the peculiar fitness OF American civilization
for enlightening the dark places of the earth u
would be his privilege to read the eloquence Of the
pulpit picturing graphically the peace and Joy our
benign rule would bring to lands where barbarism
and cruelty now prevail; from the statesman No
might learn OF this country place OF refuge
Tor the downtrodden and oppressed-a land Of
hoerty ana happiness. where life Is secure. the
weak protected. and the OF the law strong for
the right Then he might read that In one OF our
wealth'est Southern States three negroes. without
trial 0wo OF them In all probability wholly inno-
cent OF any crime) were done 10 death with
hendlsh and brutal savsgery. beyond the power Of
words 10 describe. by American citizens OF the
superior race" while the Chief Executive. whose
State and administration have thus been dis
graced by one OF the fouest crimes OF modern
times. sits impoentiy b. with scarcely word Of
condemnation for the monstrous wrong that he's
been done on the face Of the Spaniard who reads
these things there may well be a strange smile.
and In his mind strange thoughts
IL Is not our purpose. however TO dwell upon the
humiliation in the eyes OF the whole civilized world
which such crimes as the ynchings at Newnas
bring upon us, but TO cohcern ourselves rather
with the causes which have made such atrocities
possible ana the inevitable results OF the tendency
which Is certainly gaining ground in large sections
OF the South to place the negro wholly outside the
protection OF the law
Throughout the South there has been OF late Q
, very general movement the object of which has
been to disfranchise the negro voter by constitu-
tonaI amendments. legislation and occasionally.
as IN North Carolina by wholesale Intimidation.
The claim is made that the negro Is the easy prey
OF the political adyenturer and dema goguc, and
that he has abundantly proved his inability TO
make Intelligent use Of the ballot. The southern
white man. 1t is urged. is the natural friend and
protector Of the negro and Il all political power Is
intrusted 10 the hands OF the whites the negro
will be much better of in the end
Into the political and legal aspects Of the matter
II Is not my present purpose to enter Granting
Tor the sake OF the argument that the Southern
white man is Tor should bel the natural protector
ana best friend OF the negro. II is interesting to
note the spirit in which that protectorate has re-
Gently been exercised
LYNcHING ON THE INCREASE
There is no doubt that lynching in the South 10
alarmingly the increase. Many OF these Iynchinss
nave been justified on the ground that they
necessary to protect the honor OF home This ex-
cuse was virtual admission that the regular adj
ministration Of justice has been too lax and In.
efficient TO preserve the sanctty Of the home with
out resort to mob rule. Even were this conten-
ton true II has little or no bearing on several OF
the most recent and most inexcusable OF the out
RACES upon negroes. In the affair al Newman the
usual crime" was charged against only one Of the
three victims. The natural protector" Of the black
man has devised and frequently put into practice
Of late a somewhat startling and wholesale method
OF protecting his protege. When crime Is COM
mitted or offence charged. matter how trivial
II is now becoming the custom to assemble a mob
and shoot four or five negroes at random without
waiting 10 ascertain whether they have the slight
est connection with the offence charged The mob
which recently broke open Jail and fired upon the
prisoners indiScrtmtnately a q I'm
OF these prisoners awaiting trial for petty
offences. and several II has since been ascertained,
were not guilty even Of these A serious attempt
to bring the offenders to justice In such cases Is
seldom made-none with success, so far as our
Is murder: to shoot down torture innocent
en- The truth is that among the lower class Of
whites in the South the view is almost universal
bound Tesfss y the law gives i've h@ an Sa
Dc Of hs ocns fs se 81 the
rapidly drifting toward condition OF chronic
better unless the leaders Of public opinion awake
to the gravity Of the situation.
Yet just here is she pitiful and discourasipg
snd Msj .- Th9 made manly mani and
hssrng for the Sewna0 Victims 'S we're thresi-
Bravery With his e TSe Southern %oS has ne~
apparently reached a condition 50 closely approach
Ing that OF beast OF prey that scarcely hestates
TO take the life Of a man among the most honored
and distinguished when It's thirst for blood Il for
the moment stayed.
Immigrants and intending settlers in Georgia may
we'll think twice before casting In their lot with a
community where act OF such appalling moral
hideousness finds many apoogists In high places.
money in State whose Chief Executive shows such
astounding obtuseness and little respect for
good COVE rnment and civilization that he does not
resent and apparently does not even perceive the
deadly insult which the Newman lynchers have
flung in the face OF the law he is sworn 10 defend
THE STATE OF GEORGIA ON TRIAL.
The State OF Georgia is on trial before the whole
civilized world. Within her borders has been COM
mitted a crime which may well rank In infamy
with the most horrible OF the atrocities committed
by the Turks in Armenia the fortunes inflicted
upon Lander by the savage inhs bitants OF Thibet.
VIII Governor Gambler reassert the outraged
majesty OF the law will he content himself with
weak and contemplate excuses. and allow his
name to pass into history associated with the
greatest DISGRACE which has ever befallen his
State-a disgrace which will be doubled II the
II were well that he should heed the words OF the
good men and true within his own State who fear
lessly denounce the wrong that has been done not
only 70 every law abiding citizen OF Georgia, but
TO every American citizen well.
The Tribune's editorial OF April was most
timely word upon this topic. The facts OF the case
require plain speaking. he peculiar difficulties
of the race problem in the South nave long been
recognized by all thoughtful men. Yet no dinicul-
ties could such loathsome debauch or
crime as that which has just occurred. The south
must deal sternly with this problem or It's future
history will become saturnslia OF crime blood
she'd and anarchy Upon such deeds ana their
abettors and apoogists the conscience or ctvifza-
ton will pronounce sentence OF stern condemns-
WILLIAM BUCKINGHAM AIKEN
NorUich. Conn, May 10. ls&