The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-03-18
THE PALMETTO LYNCHING.

THE BAA4hf1 4 " IL lNNhhANos
There is not single extenuatlng circum-
stance. from any point OF view, that can
be urged in defense OF those who COM
mitted the cowardiy crime at Palmetto
on the night of March H. The negroes
who were shot 70 death were in the Gus
tody Of the officers of the law. They were
tied together. and there was no possibility
of their escape. either from the officers or
from the punishment which would have
been meted out to them if found guilty.
There were only three guards. and they
we're not given a chance to defend the
prisoners. Therefore, the lynchers were
absolutely certain that they could shoot
to death the helpless creatures without
running any risk of injury to themselves.
The fact that the prisoners were ac-
cused Of having attempted to burn the
town for the purpose of robbng the stores
during the progress of the flames was no
excuse for the lynching. II may be true
that they were guilty. but it was not for
a mob TO decide they were and to impose
upon them the sentence of death and to
execute the sentence. The courts are open
in every county in the state. There is
no justification for mob law anywhere
within the states limits. The Palmetto
lynchers made themselves greater crimi-
nails than the negroes they lynched, as
Stunning that the negroes were guilty of
(, the crime for which they had been ar
rested
The Palmetto lynching was the logical
outcome of other lynchings which have
taken place in the state within the last
few years. If the heavy hand of the law
had been laid firmly upon the participants
in other iynchings the Palmetto affair
would not have occurred. Let but one lot of
the lynchers be punished as the law pro-
vides and there will be no more lynchings
in Georgia. 1t is the absolute certainty
of immunity from punishment which en-
courages men 20 hide their identity and
go forth in mobs under the cover of dark
ness to do murderous deeds. 1t would
have paid the state a hundred fold If in
previous lynchings no efforts had been
spared to bring the lynchers to justice.
The state suffers greatly from the reputa-
4
cannot attract either capital or immi-
grants If the impression gets abroad that
life within its borders is not safe from
mob violence
The Governor has expressed himself
strongly in respect to the Palmetto horror.
He has offered rewards for the apprehen-
sion and convic lion of the lynchers or any
of them. But he must do more than that.
He must take the lead in ferriting out the
criminals and bringing them to justice.
He could do the state no greater service
than to make the Palmetto outrage mark
the end of lynch law in Georgia We are
sure that in that work he would have the
active and earnest support of every man
who has any interest in the grand Old
commonwealth. We have had enough of
lynching-more than enough. If the Pal
metto lynchers are punished lynchings in
the state will be at an end.
The lynchers will not be brought to JUS
tlce by simply offering a reward for them.
The Governor must take the lead in arous-
ing such a public sentiment against them
that those who know them will not hesi-
tate to appear as their accusers. 1t is
said that one of the negroes who escaped
the mob declares that he recognized some
of the lynchers. Let him tell what he
knows at once. and let active steps be
taken Immediately for bringing all of the
perpetrators of one of the greatest out
RACES in the history of the state TO JUS
tice.