The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-05-16
ALTERNATIVE FOR LYNCHlNG
Prominent SOutherDer Wants sum
mary Courts for Negro RaDists.


in Louisville, of $4,000 damages TO
a Kentucky negro who had suffered at
the hands of mob looks like a move
ment in the direction Of a new order in
the south. The jury which brought IN the
verdict was composed of white farmers.
all men above the average intelligence in
their own communities a hundred such
verdicts might not break up mob rule in
the south, but every one Of the hundred
would bring the better time a step nearer
The trouble with this mode Of regenera-
ton is that southern mob with a negro
IN hand usually makes its job complete.
and leaves nobody to sue for damages:
and it is hardly 10 the credit Of the su-
perior race that few white men who have
suffered mob outrage have had the cour-
age ITO carry their troubles to the civil
side Of the courts, where they will al
ways have a better chance for fair treat
ment than on the criminal side
One reason which southerners hereabout
offer privately in defence Of the intemper-
ate acts of mobs where negroes are con-
cerned, but TO (which they rarely give rub-
lie utterance. is that the slow methods Of
the courts. even if they convict and even
if the sentence of death is actually car
ried out, rob the punishment Of half its
effectiveness by giving the criminals a
chance TO 'get religion" and present to
their admiring observers the spectacle Of
a thoroughly happy end 10 life Of vice
and crime They say that this sort of
thing has a most unwholesome effect UPON
fI-a vi, oil
in thepn the idea that they can do any
thing they choose, and yet step from the
scaffold into an eternity of bliss if time
enough is given them to make long pray
ers and sing soul-stirring hymns.
. A few days ago Colonel Archibald Hop
kins Of this city published a suggestion
that in each southern state where lynch
law is prevalent II would be a clever idea
to establish 10y legislation a system OF
drum head courts for the punishment of
assaults upon women. AS an outline Of
such fabric he suggests that the governor
be authorized to appoint an officer in every
township whose duty it shall be to sum-
mon, on the day the assault becomes
known. six citizens living nearest the
scene of the crime or Of the capture OF
the accused, and constitute them a special
jury; that this officer preside over the
jury and hold summary trial, at which
the prisoner may be heard and may call
any witnesses within reach; and that the
same functionary who served thus as
magistrate be given authority also to
execute the sentence pronounced in ac-
cordance with the verdict Of the jury. or
II the case remain sufficiently involved in
doubt to turn the prisoner over to the
sheriff till further investigation can be
made.
kins argued that the southern situation Is
extraordinary. and requires extraordinary
measures for its rectffcation. The plan
he proposes. he admits, is not ideal, but
II seems to answer the peculiar demands
Of the southern people that the punish
ment for the crime 10 which vicious
negroes are most prone shall be not only
severe but prompt. you cannot make
over at once the social order Of The
south" said he. "any more than YOU can
stop your horse when he IS running away
and re i stronger than YOU. But a good
driver. # nc cannot bring his runaway
horse 70 standztiU az least strives n
keep him IN the middle 81 the road and
preserve the outward form of control
over him So the philosopher who dra's
With the lvnching question n the south.
y Dopu1ar sentiment there does not sup
por- -he patiert 49, ding methods -
the law. viii seek 70 devise some means
OF preserving The forms o. 'aw even wir1
radical amendments of IT'S detau. TIE
7-,,-7-4eqd trial is vzed. and very effcc-
.ivelv. under martial rule. and = NAV %
.r74 zar7eth hing NJ that sort would meet
the demands OF Tire ABNORMAL situation n
tae south"
r,7-,rr The laEt vesk Coro1es Ho71fns
has received caue from s0Dtharn men q
position who WISHED 70 eNp-esS ihe'r De-
- .-s- - 49, m ire r.ga. track