The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-04-25
L TO POLITICS.
statement from Governor CnndIer on
the Palmetto Lynchings.

ATLANTA, Ga, April 24.-Governor Allan
ID. Gambler to-day gave out the following
interview regarding the burning of Hose at
Newman and the putting to death of
Preacher Strickland at Palmetto:
Il believe the whole trouble OF all these
disorders Is traceable to politics. The ballot
was thrust into the negro's hand immedi-
ately after his emancipation, when he was
utterly unprepared for the judicious use Of
II, and the scallawags and carpet-baggers
win lam came here and took charge of him filled
him the ward Of the Nation, and. for parti-
san purposes, induced him to believe that he
would be protected by the general govern
ment, whether right or wrong. This, In my
OPINION, Is the prime cause of all the friction
that has ever existed in Georgia between the
whites and the blacks. Bishop Turner, one
that all the disorders that have arisen have
been confined TO the younger men Of both
races: that there has never been any antag-
the old slave. And Bishop Turner is right.
Such crimes as have provoked lynchings
have been perpetrated by the younger gen.
Grafton, and while l and my immediate
TO be done To keep down violence of this
sort, and while L propose TO continue to ex-
haust every means to protect every citizen.
black and white. against lawlessnesS and
violence, / am at last driven 10 the conclu-
sion that to prevent such crimes as have
recently been enacted in Campbell, Coweta,
49, eh4 INV OdAAN III N"t oNal1 Il
healthy, vigorous public sentiment in favor
of law and order must be built up.
Good white men everywhere deplore such
occurrences as that which took place yes
terday. and they are using all the influence
they have to prevent them. Governor At
kinson, Judge Freeman and many other
good men in Newman did all in their power
to prevent the lynching, but to no avail.
NOW, good negroes must be equally &C.
tive in building up a sentiment in. their race
against the diabolical crimes which are al
ways at the back of these lynchings. The
ministers and church members and teachers
among the neg roes must be equally active in
their efforts 10 build up a healthy public
sentiment against the crimes which provoke
lynchings as they are TO build up a sentiment
against that crime. The safety of the negro
race demands this, and their leaders must
be as vigorous and active in this direction
as the leaders OF public sentiment among the
white race are.
must and Will do everything in their power
to put down lawlessness and crime as they
have been doing. but after all they are
of all good men of both races before their
efforts become effective and before crime
can be suppressed. The Legislature can do
but little more than it has done.
There Is, however, one evil which they
may contribute something toward correcting.
That is the custom which has grown UP
among some members OF the legal profession
of trying, by technicaiities and bubbles, 20
protect their clients, even when guilty. a
lawyer swearS TO see that his client has JUS
tice. This he ought to do, whether that
client is rich or poor, black or white. When
he has done this he has done his whole duty
and he is not justified in trying TO defeat
the ends of justice and tampering with the
verdicts of the juries and the judgment CT
the court by a resort TO dilatory. pleas and
mere technical evidence. This has grown
to such an extent that ii Is made an excuse
for lynch law, the mObs claiming that if
they do not take the administration of JUS
tice in their own hands, II Will not be adj
ministered, that the lawyers, by such means
as / have mentioned, will cheat the gallows
or penitentiaries and turn loose upon society
the burglar. the red-handed murderer or the
rapiSt.
Il am glad TO say that the lawyers who
have INDUCED in this reprehensible practice
do not constitute the majority of the most
respectable part Of the bar. but, neverthe-
less, this evil does exist in the administratio
OF the law, and IL behoOveS all our legislators
and our courts to discourage in every legiti-
mate way such practices as have a tendency
TO defeat the ends of justice and destroy
confidence in the willingness and ability OF
the courts 10 protect the innocent ana pun
iSh the guilty."