New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-06-05
THE PASSING THRONG.

While men of almost every other walk In life
have freely expressed their opinions about the
southern lynchngs the lawyers OF the South have
been comparatively quiet the.
LYNCHING IN subject Here II a talk with W 8
THE SOUTH Woodward. a prominent lawyer OF
Norfolk. Va. who was at the Fifth
Avenue Hotel yesterday:
Il must confess said Mr. Woodward that the
circumstances surrounding the recent lynchings in
Georgia were such that. although l must deplore
them as a lawyer, find II hard 10 condemn them
as a man. The people of the North know about as
much Of the existing conditions in the South and
the proper legislation to overcome them do
about the why's and wherefores OF the laws In
Greenland. Consequently l think that the criti-
cism have received in the press Of the North
has been entirely too severe: and with this small
reservation / may proceed to speak frankly Of
lynching and its undeniably bad results.
I'm Norfolk my home, the people as
thorough Southerners they in Georgia; and
yet we have had lynching In the city Of
Norfolk. nor far know In Norfolk County
II is noticeable fact that assaults by negroes
less frequent In Norfolk County than In any other
community OF the South. Indeed. they are almost
unheard Of Now. this may be attributed in
measure 10 the fact that Norfolk County Is more
thckly settled than some OF the other sections. but
believe that II Is largely due 10 the certainty OF
the law In Norfolk
when a negro or any offender. for that matter.
is duly tried convicted and sentenced by court
Of Justice, II makes a far greater impression on
other possible evildoers than II he were merely
caught and put TO death by mob who acted in
violation Of all laws. The dignity the solemnity nd
the positive certainty Of the law It's most power
full factors In the suppression OF crime and when a
citizen band OF citizens take into their own hands
the execution OF the law they proclaim 10 the
world that their laws a farce and they rob
themselves OF the protection which rightly belongs
, to them They create. in the mind Of the ignorant
black man. the impression that a mob. blind with
eude. Is the worst that he has to fear The wide
reaching grasp OF the law, the certainty OF uiti-
mate apprehension and the surety that laws which
are not infamed by passion cannot be mitigated
ground. The fear Of immediate danger. no mat
ter how great Is not deterrent Of crime; but the
the fear OF It's servants. whose vigilance extends
throughout the length and breadth OF the lana,
have maryeoqsly saIutary influence on the is-
81 think that iynching in the South will be
polced, when the authorities are In a position to
defend their prisoners, and when the courts have
II not swift IN their retribution. as are mobs
do not believe that the better element OF SOUTH
think they will rejoice when It is abolished
e the OF the on N0 TU are w6u
suggest that they bear In mind the incident when
capltal-where a negro shot policeman and a
lynching was narrowly averted 1t was only be
cause the policemen were so numerous ana fortune
the nearest lamppost. Yet his crime was not nalt
henOus as the one for which Sam Holt was put
death. and in the latter case the authorities
were powerless TO act Washington is the citadel
Of the law but the people do not seem TO ne Will
ing submit to It in every case. even there. Ine
passion TO kill is not confined to Southerners.
Frank P. Morgan. OF Washington. who was a
delegate 10 the Democratic National Convention az
Chicago. is the Grand Hotel. II voted for
Bryan" said Mr.. Morgan yester-
BRYAN day. land think he is the logical
MAN FOR candidate for 1900 but l not
EXPANSION an antl-expansionist. l believe In
supporting the Administration In so
far as it's policy OF expansion goes, at least. The
Government has a hard enough TO hoe as IT is,
and It would be most deporable thing for the
Democratic party 10 say that we have been all
wrong In my opinion this and-expansion plank, II
Il put into the platform for 1900 will surely result
in gnominious defeat. The American people believe
in their and they will not support any party
that condemns H.
Il think that the next Democratic platform Will
consist OF antitrust and free silver the latter being
a secondary consideration At this particular time
Antitrust would be winning batue-cry and |
hope that II will be made the most conspicuous
plank in the platform.