Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-04-26
Georuia's Shame.

IL is the same old story, though the
details this time are more horrible and
revolving than usual There was the
murder of a farmer at his supper table
by splitting his skull with an AK, fol-
lowed by the outrage of his wife in
his blood. Then a frenzied mob OF
fiend who committed the atroclous
crimes, and upon catching him dealt
out vengeance in its most terrible
forms. Not content with this, the
mob also lynched a negro, who was
suspected of hiring the first to murder
the farmer His guilt was much IN
doubt. but the mob would not let the
law have him. All this is followed
bv season of terror for the blacks of
that section,-some whipped, some
driven away, houses fired into, and
more lynchinGs in prospect. The tale
is an over familiar one, and has been
heard from some part of the South
every week since the close of the Civil
War.
This Georgia affair has attracted
more attention than is commonly the
case because the mob burned their vic
tim at the stake ard then cut the body
into fragments instead of hanging him
in the time honored way. Before
burning him he was tortured at length,
and his ears and fingers were sliced on,
one by one. Ii makes the blood run
cold To read of all this, but it has actu-
ally happened in one of the Oldest parts
of this civilized Christian country. IL
was not a horde of savage Filipinos
who thus butchered a prisoner; II ives
not a barbarous band of Apaches VINO
thus held orgies over a victim; it was
hodv of American citizens with the
blood of the old Southern chiyalry in
their veins. The world shudders at the
awful spectacle. Well may Georgia
blush in its shame. while its press and
its public officials stammer apologies
and regrets.
What does it all mean? Nothing
brings more reproach upon our nation
than this continuous disregard Of law
in the South. Legisla tures pass laws and
governors issue proclamations, but the
lynchers go unpublished in every in
stance. Only before the great bar Of
public opinion are they ever tried. N
the South they are acquitted with ap-
plause by this tribunal; in the North
abroad there are more sneers and jibes
for our American civilization. The eX-
listing condition of things is 4 most
serious hindrance to the progress of
the South. 1t is dark stain upon the
flag that is even now in distant lands
being carried forward in battle in the
name OF liberty and justice.
And what do the lynchers gain? The
law, had it been allowed its course,
would nave taken the lie OI llle HluI :
derer and ravisher, and Georgia would
have been spared the bitter disgrace
that its Sunday carnival of blood and
fire brings upon it. Such events work
untold evil in a community and no
good. They debase and demoralize
the community and in no degree do
they decrease the crimes they punish.
But these arguments have no weight
upon a wild and savage mob seeking
quick vengeance. The root Of the evil
is deep. No law can dig it out, and il
is doubtful if any process can remove
it. other than complete revolution of
the social system of the South. From
their point Of view the whole matter
has different aspect. And it is only
lust to admit that many of us of the
North who are justly appalled, and hor-
rified by the awful affair al Newman,
| Georgia. might find ourselves in the
! heart of the mob. if our home in the
! South had been similarly violated by
| some black monster,