The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-05-04
Some Views ON LynchinE.

Inter Roaden Farm. May s. 1S99-EdItor
Morning News: How varied are the views
in reference to the lynching of Hose? Some
denounce it as wilful murder, while others,
as Mr.. ingalls,, even, go so far as 10 say
the deed was lin the act of self preserva-
ton, which is natures, first law" OF
course, every citizen regrets that such
acts are perpetrated in our good old state,
and the first idea that strikes the mind is
how shall these events be prevented. There
is no law, human or divine, that wiH stay
the strong right arm of a chivalrous man
when the virtue of his household is in
vaded, and thank God it is so. If a saw
age bear enters your enclosure, the beast
is hunted TO death. There is no law for
the savage beast and when man degrades
himself to the level of the savage brute,
he must expect to be treated likewise But
how can these lynch,ngs be stopped? The
only answer is stop the ravisher, and this
task devolves entirely upon the teachers
of the colored race. have lived all my
life with these people. Rocked 10 sleep
clasped in dusky and tender arms, played
marbles and ran races, foot and horseback,
with the boys of the plantation, managed
at various times hundreds of them in va
rious kinds of labor and have very many
friends among the blacks. My old servants
always know where TO come when in trou-
BILE, for they know Mars Ed" as they
kindly call me to this day. is always their
friend when in need, but oh what a low
standard governs their walk through life!
What low standard many of their teach
ers live up to! l happened several weeks
ago at my railroad station, where two ne
gro girls, some IL or 10 years old, sat,
they did not hear or see me, and heard
them speaking Of perhaps the most noted
eolored divine in Savannah man who
writes ID. D. to his name, who exercises
great influence, both in local and state
affairs, and to hear these girls speak of
this man showed what his influence was
teaching.
[ met colored man in the streets sew
eral days ago. He stepped up to me as tho
there was some bond of friendship between
us, and said, "nowdye Capt. Thomas
Expressing surprise. he continued. you
don't know me, Capin; don't you member
when me and you was on the chain-gang
together, when you was county engineer.
and l use TO take your rod and chain
could not suppress a smile. and said, "why,
amt you ashamed TO let any one know
that you have served term on the chain
gang?" "Oh, no boss" he said, 1--WE boys
always talking and laughing about dem
times" Now what Is going to become of
such people with such teachers?
The howl comes from every negro
church and assembly, backed by fanatics,
against the Newman men, who AXE you or
I would rush 10 crush tire brute, who en-
tered a neighbours home. killing the hus-
band and more than killing the wife, but
not a word from these people in condemn
alton of the atrocious act of the burly
black brute.
Lynchipg for this notorious crime is not
confined TO the colored man. Several years
ago. a young white man only attemp ed
such a crime on the daughter of gentle
man living near Quitman. Ga, and her en-
ragged protectors pursued him and shot
him TO death.
Colored men of the South, scoundrels
white or black, we put you on notice that
the day the chastity of our homes is y.o-
lated, that day you shall die.
Edw. j. Thomas