The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-08-01
REV. DIR. BATTLE
ON LYNCHING
He DepIores the Evil and Points Out
the Remedy.
WANTS THE LAWS ENFORCED
lie Saws Both the Evil OF Lawless Al
ministration aud the Crime Which
is Said to Lead 20 IL Most Ere
qucutly Can BE Checked.

The Illustrated Buffalo q. " Express
Of Sunday. July ed. published the fol-
lowing which will be OF interest TO many
people in Virginia. whore Dr. Battle SIS so
well known:
The Rev Dr. Henry W. Battle. pastor Of
tho First Baptist church. OF Petersburg,
Va. will an the pulpit at the Delaware
Avenue Baptist church to-day and until
tho latter part Of August. during tho alb
scnce Of tho Roy. Or Clifford. DR. Battle
has the reputation 81 being able % deliver
exceptionally eloquent sermons. lie Us
one Of the most prominent OF tho Southern
minister Of the Baptist denomination.
which Is so strong below Mason and Dix
on S line. and has made a careful study OF
the negro question. Dr. Battle was born
in Alabama. the son Of "a Confederate gen
cral. and has passed most ~ his life IN
that State and In Georgia. Nearly all OF
his people were deeply interested in the
civil war. ono OF his unclcs having been
the war Governor OF Alabama. and his
grandfathcr having been one OF Oh" largest
slave owners I'm tho South. yet Dr. Battle
cherishcs no feelings ~ bitterness against
his Northern counymcn.
An Express man saw Dr. Battle last
night az the home of Andrew W. Can't
No 573 west Ferry street. where ho is
stopping and asked him for his views on
the negro question and the prevalence
and efficacy Of lynchings I'm ne South.
1t is undoubtedly a difficult question
for the people OF the North where so few
negroes live. 20 understand and apprc-
ciate said Dr. Battle 81 have spent so
much Of my life in the extreme South and
have become SO cOuversant with tho con-
ditions OF society there as they have cN-
listed ever since the war that really think
can speak OF these matters Conservative
lv and with fairness. Tho Southern pa
pers are filed with these accounts Of the
terrible crimes committed by negroes and
which are cXpatiated so frequently
through the medium Of lynch law. These
crimes against white women are so fro
ouont as 10 horrfy mankind. and yet
when ] say that this summary practice OF
disposlng OF ihe culprits is utterly ahhor-
rent To the best people Of the South l
believe ! express their sentiments exactly
This sentiment has been uttered recently
AZ Boston by Ex-Governor Northen, OF
Georgia. and has been repeated all over
tina South. ......
WILL AROUSE RESENTMENT.
1T would be well for ms. however. 10
bear I'm mind the fact that the crimes
that have been punished by lynching IN
the South are precisely such as would
arouse In any other section OF the coun-
try-NOrth. East or West-eNactF
as much intense resentment on
they do i'm the South And IL
eyer lynchlng could be justified. as be-
lleve IL could not. % would be justified UNI
dsr conditions as they have existed In
Georgia and South Carolina The people
,of these States-not the wealthy and most
prominent citizens-have been worked up
into "A state OF frenzy by the crimes OF ne
groes. and there Is widespread cohNic-
tlon among the lower and even among the
middle classes 10 "a certain extent that the |
only way 10 abolish this kind OF CRIME
and secure safety for wives and daughters |
OF the South IS by means of lNnch law. |
] do not agree with that sentiment Oh
course
.eVhat is 10 be tho outcome OF the cohdl-
,ion in the South2" Dr. Battle was asked. |
Il don't know. it's big question. ~
g. a senincant fact that the oHehso9
winch have aroused such intense IeelHs
have been committed by members ol '"o
race against members of anolher Idr''
and without reference 90 the negro as
sucn. IL is inevitable that there shouiu oe
encendered among The white popui'll""
an intensihcation of any race pfeJualc-
that may exist hy the continuance o4
such onenses. For the good ~ no.h
races. something must bee done speedily
10 mt a stop 90 such offenses. Their con-
,tnuance in practically undiminlshed
numbers must necessarily lead 20 iouDie
much more serious than any we yet nave |
experienced. As preventative, Nhch
law has proved a signal failure lhueeo,
il IS contrary 90 eternal law thai Wrohs
should be suppressed by wrong and
lvnch law never will accomplish the re
suit so much desired. I'm some way we
must bring education and religion 20
bear upon the dark problem.
AT the last session OF the southern
BAPTIST convention. the largest deiibera-
live BODY ia the United States. a resoiu-
lion was adopted requesting the minis
.ers Of that denomination 10 use am their
power 10 bring the negro race under the
influence Of education ana religion.
DEPLORE THE CRIMES.
I do not hesitate 90 say that a good
majority Of the Sogthern negroes deeply
leplore the crimes which some OF their
ace are committing. THOSE who have
,een guilty belong 60 the younger gen
ration The world never saw "A grauder |
'xniDiti0n OF honor and devotion than
nat presented hy the slaves during The
I
he younger negroes are drifting on
Wild tide Of hestial passion
do YOU think the North would pc
rulitv Of 80 many lvnchings ~ the mass
" the negro population were tn the
Iorth instead OF In the SOUTH asked
ne reporter.
without the slightest doubt there
rould be Just az many ynchings in the
forth under the conditions fhat rovo~"
the south" said Dr. Battle. "You
ave the same elements Of society az the
'orth a. We have az the South. and when
on give 20 that class as an incentive q
erverted sense Of right. YOU will have
le same results in any land under re
an The South has these negroes the
orih has not Give the North these me-
roes and "a would be the South that
ould be crying out against the lynch
KS and the race hatred Indeed J fhi"R
IS "a well-establshed fact that North
m gentlemen who have made their
omes In the South have become even
ore radical in their resentment against
ie crimes OF the negro than DO those who
90 feel that tie 10 the race which was
nee a close and tender one
Il have an abiding faith that the God
our country b. going 10 solve for the Z
CHEST interest Of this people an the dark
obiems which confront us now. You
I'VE your troubles in the North ana We
ave ours IN the South. Let as extend {
each other genuine sympathy. and so | !
y as we may honorable and manly /
slstance"
do you believe the crimes 81 which | 4
~ speak would diminish I'm number or q
come more frequent II lynchne were !
be absolutely stopped IN the SOUTH" :
a BIG QUESTION y
well" replied DR. Battle. hesltatlng- Y
"ihafs a big question, l nnNer Ind | !