The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-04-26
0UTRAGES In THE SOUTH
LYNCHINGs CONDEMNED IN STRONG
TERMS BY COL r.. G. INGERsOLL.
He Wants to Know IL the White Peo-
pie Are Insane-KiIling of Rapists
Defended by q south CaroIiniaa.

NEW YORK, April Cool. Robert G.
Ingersol says Of tie lynching in Georgia.:
IT suppose these outrages down there
frightful c-rimes-made the same impression
on my mind that they do on the minds of
all civilized people. Il know of no words
strong enough. bitter enough, to express my
Indignation and horror. The horrors were
perpetrated in the name OF justice. The
savages who did these things belong TO the
superior race. They are citizens of the
great Republic. And yet 1t does not seem
possible that such fiends are human beings.
They are a disgrace to our country, our
century and the human race. Let me say
that h 1 have said is hattery compared
with what / feel. When / think of the
other lynching-of the poor man mutilated
and hanged without the slightest evidence,
of the negro who said that these murders
would be avenged, and who was brutality
murdered for the u%tterance Of a natural
feeling-I am utterly at loss for words. Are
the white people insane? Has mercy fed
10 beasts? Has the United States no power
TO protect a citizen? A nation that cannot
or will not protect it's citizens in time Of
peace has no right to ask its citizens TO
protect 1t in time of war"
Rev. Horace Bumstead. president OF the
Atlanta University. of Atlanta. Ga, said:
"In common with all law-abiding Ameri-
cans 1 cannot but deplore the horrible
transactions OF the last day or two in my
adopted State of Georgia. Awful as is the
injustice OF such dealings toward the negro
race. their results are still more terrible in
their effect on the white race in under
mining all respect for law. II Is a crafty
ing sign or the times that such a good
SOIIfhGrn man ax-Gnuorrnr Atkinson
should boldly endeavor to stem the tide
of wrong and should declare his willingness
70 testify against the wrong-doers. 1t is
only as the number Of such men can be in
creased in the South that that section can
hope to perpetuate the best American civili-
cation within her borders"
w. A. Barber, ex-attOrney general Of
South Carolina who has just returned from
Lake City, S. c., where he was prosecuting
attorney for the government in the trial of
the lynchers OF Postmaster Baker. says:
II believe I'm the lynching OF negroes con-
fessedly guilty OF criminal assault. 1t is
the only protection OF the women Of the
South. especially Of the rural districts:
sorry fer the South that this blot is upon
Us. 1t affects US all over the world. 1t robs
moral and social position to which we are
entitled. II ruins the worth OF our invest
ments If IT IS not stopped then shut the
churches and admit to the world that
Anglo-Saxon civilization Is a failure"
The colored ministers of New York city,
at a meeting In St. Marks NJ. Z. Church,
passed resolutions denouncing the Georgia
~lynchings. Rev. VIM. III. Brooks. of St.
Marks Church. was among the speakers.
we have no sympathy he said, with the
crime charged against the negroes through
out the South, but, whatever the crime. we
believe there IS sufficient law to protect
them until the trial comes. / hope and
trust that the secular and religious papers
and puipits will give their aid and throw
their influence on the side Of right"
Rev. Z. X. Tompkins. pastor Of St.
James's Presbyterian Church. said: II
would much rather be a Filipino and be
under the Spanish yoke than under the law
and order now practiced I'm Georgia."