The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-06-11
APPEAL TO THE GOVERNORS.
AFRO-AMERICAN COUNCIL WANTS
LYNCHING STOPPED.

Since the First Day of January There
Have Been Tventy-eight Lynch
ings of Negroes in the SOuth-COun-
Gil DenOunces Criminal Assaults,
and Says Both Races should Help
Crush Out the TaDists Through
the Machinery OF the Law.
Washington, June 10.-The Afro-Ameri-
can Council of the Uuited States has is
sued ga appeal to the Governors, legisla-
lures and judicial officers of the Southern
states, 20 prevent lawIessness and 10 Sc
cure TO all citizens the protection TO
which they are entitled under the laws"
After reference TO the burning of Sam
Hose. the lynch-ng of Lige Strickland and
the political riots in South Carolina and
North Carolina, the appeal says:
Since the list day of January there have
been twenty-eight cases of lynchings in
the South, and every one Of them colored
men, This is not, only an unwarranted
outrage upon them, but demoralzing TO
the white race. 1t terrorizes and I'M
mans the former. 1t familiar-zes the lat
ter with lawiessness and crime, creating
in them contempt for lawful authority and
desire for mob rule. 1t is hurtful and de-
suuctive to the best interests of both.
DenOunee Assaults, Too.
I'VE deplore, condemn and denounce in
unmeasured terms criminal assaults upon
women by whomsoever committed and de-
sire the apprehension and legal punish
ment of every criminal guilty of the crime.
All we ask is that the regular machinery
of justice be employed, and the accused
given fair and impartial trial-the course
pursued with white men charged with the
same offense
In most of the Southern states your
people are in a large majority, and in all
of them you are in absolute control. Every
branch of the government-executive leg
islative and judicial-is in your hands. The
judges are all white men and the jurors
are almost exclusively composed of
white men, Colored Offenders have little
chance for escape when guilty Of a petty
offense, and if guilty of a serious crime
their conviction is certain. This fact is
known of ali men, and there is, therefore,
not the slightest excuse or justification for
a resort 10 mob violence against colored
criminals"
Has Not Decreased Crime.
The appeal goes on to say that severity
of punishment has had no effect in de-
creasing crime, and that inhuman and
barbarous methods have no terror for the
criminals. The united efforts of both
races promptly and legally to stamp out
rapists wherever found, win more thor
oughly and completely rid communities Of
these miscreants than the brutal acts Of
bloodthirsty and irresponsible mobs. The
I appeal closes as follows:
~ our oath of office imposes upon you
the duty 10 execute the laws and protect
/ the people, irrespective of race or color.
/ The reputation ol your state, your honor,
and the honor and reputation of your PEG
pie, demand that you rise to the .evel OF
/ The occasion, Vindicale Your assumption Of
! the capacity to rue by the restoration Of
/ The majesty Of the Jaw, extending It's full
est protection 10 the humblest citizen I'M
der your jurisdiction. Respectfully sub
mitted.
y. Walters, President National Afro
American Council.
| back, Jesse Lawson, X. S. Smith Lucy E.
| MOten, l.. Thomas Fortune, Robert Har-
Ian, W. IL. Hart, a. p. Albert, Lewis II.
| Douglass.