The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-05-02
THR SOUTH HAS SPOKEN AND
~LYNCHING MUST STOP.

The Progressive Farmer last week
suggested that North Carolina should
adopt South CarolinR's anti lynch law.
We now desire to repeat the sIgges
ton, and to add that other States would
do we'll to adopt the same Law. Per
haps an even more drastic Law should
be adopted, for lynch law strikes &C
the very foundation of law and order,
at the corner stone of government. 1t
breeds anarchy, and distrust OF law,
and respects no pledges Oh promises.
The Sam Hose affair is one Of which
Georgia and the whole South is Justly
and heartily ashamed. That Hose de
served all the pain and torment ne
suffered we have not the least doubt.
But his murdererP, who surrounded
aud burned him, yelling like demons
in fendish glee at his torment, have
brought disgrace upon the South. We
are not prepared to believe that the
Flipinos in all their savagery are
swayed by such brutal passions.
1t is said that at the trial of the Lake
City lynchErs in South Carolina two
weeks ago, Judge Brawley, a one
armed Confederate veteran, shed tears
when referring to the disgrace Of that
IaRlessness. Not efe nina e tears, ,
says one of the Georgia papers, but
tears shed by a strong, able, upright,
just and honest man in sorrow for the
shame which lynchers have brought
upon his beloved State"
And Rev. Dr.. Vance, Of Nashville,
st the International Sunday School
Convention at Atlanta lsst week but
voiced the sentim 9uts Of the better
class Of the SouCh's peoplc-1ad the
better class is the larger class-when
ne said:
LAS I stand here tonight, a South
erner, speaking for my section and ad
dressing an audience from all sec.lcns
there is one foul blot upon the fair
name of the South, at the bare menti %
Of which the heart turns sick and lhe
cheek is crimsoned with shame. l
want to lift my vioce tonight in loud
and long and indignant protest against
the awful horror OF mob violerc
which the other day reached the eli
max Of it's madness and infamy in q
deed as black and brutal and barbara
ous as can be found in all the annals
of human crime.
II have a right to speak on this sub
jact and I propose to be heard. The
time has come for every lover of the
South to set the might of an angered
and resolute manhood against the
shame and peril OF the lynch demon.
These people whose fendish gIse taunts
their victim as his flesh Crackles in the
flames do not represent the South.
They Islander the South. l have not a
syllable Of apology for the sickening
crime they meant to avenge. But it is
high time we were learning that law
lessness is no remedy for crime. For
one, | dare to believe that the people
Of my section are able TO cope with
crime however t~reacherous and defiant,
through their courts OF justice, and I
plead for the masterful sway of a
righteous and ex alted public sentiment
that shall class lynch law in the cate
CORY with crime"
The Sam HJse affair has brought
forth a strong anti lynch sentiment
and the press and pulpit of the South
are daily helping the growth of this
sentiment. Whether the States will
adopt the South Carolina law or a
stronger one, we do not know. But
the South has spoken in no uncertain
Voice and its decree is-Lynchiny must
stop.