The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1899-06-09

revenge he has no conception ut any
time of tho sacredness or value of
human life or honor He does not
realize the "nornity of murder.
Morally he is as simple, in most in
stances, as he is mentally II child.
lie can be inclted to crimo az easily
as child--but has the strength of IL
man to accomplish his purpose. He
is too much of TIE animal to appro
clate horror or responsiveness, and
does not shrink from details of crime
at which even the hardened white
man, who is intelligent enough to re-
alIze them, recoils. The punishment
inflicted on others through tho rope
and tho rifle he well knows, and, af
tor the commission of tho deed bo :
comes a fugitive, associating with
the worst of his race, and perhaps
with few of tho "whito trash "
Thus he becomes an addition to the
army these wretchcs who are q
constant menace in many parts Of
the South to the respectable ole
ments, both white and black. or
course, crime is not always the re-
suit Of the Influence of vicious whites
upon the iguorant negroes The
latter, like children, can become
suspicious at trifling occurrence
Many times they are led to commit
crime 10y imaginary grievances and
ny the arguments Of their own rel
atlVes, disregarling the consequen.
ces rs much as they disregard the
damage to the crops, caused by their
trip to the camp meeting, and reform
is practically unknown. Most of the
criminals keep away from civilization
as much rs possible. They know
the result Of capture and that pro
fessions Of penitence will amount to
little or nothing. SO they keep on
from bad to worse.
Probably no farmer in the South,
whether Il native or one of the thou
sands of Northern settlers in these
States, would admit that it IS the
right thing to shoot or hang man
without legal trial, but here is the
argument they use in most instances
We have proof that this man com
mitted the crime. There is no judge
within thirty or forty miles. We
cannot turn him over to the sheriff
without travelling to -, which
would require fully two days. This
fellows friends may shoot us down
from any thicket and rescue him.
If we make up Il strong enough par
ty to defend ourselves and keep him
from being liberated somo of us must
leave our houses unprotected and
crime may b" his repeated by others
before W" can put him in Jail and get
back. lie may not be tried for a
year and then get off without his
Just deserts. SO, without the for
mality of law, the mans life is taken
as warning to the rest of his kind
They also know that not one white
farmer in hundred ever goes to
town without a pistol in his pocket
or a gun in his wagon box. Most of
thom know that firoarm always
stands loaded near his front door and
that he iH continually on guard to
protect himself and family from
death or worse than death.
1T is not a new custom to him.
When the county is SO sparsely set
tied that Il sheriff or constable may
not be within 20 miles, and on the
outskirts Of every farm village can
be found black and white who would
think nothing Of Il murder for % or
80 conts-this is a cold fact-they
feel that SO preservation is the first
law of nature and quick punishment
is the best warning.