The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-06-11
AN APPEAL TO GOVERNORS
OF THE SOUTHERN STATES, AND
PETITION OF GRIEVANCES.
LAW IN THE HANGS OF THE WHITE MAN
And no Chance for The Negro to Escape Pun.
ishment When he is Guilty. Touched
on Political Riots" in
CaroIiras,

Washington, June 1O.-The Afro
American Council of the United States
has issued an appeal to the Governors
Legislatures and judicial officers of the
Southern States ito prevent lawlessness
and to secure to all citizens the protec-
ton to which they are eptitled under
the laws" After reference to the burn
ing of Sam Hose, the lynching of Lge
Strickland and the political riots in
South Carolina and North Carolina, the
appeal says:
Since the first day of January there
have been twenty-eight cases of lynch
ing in the South, and every one of them
colored men. This is not only an UNI
warranted outrage upon them, but de-
mOralizing to the white race. 1t terror
ICES and humans the former. 1t ia
miliarizes the later with lawlessness and
crime creating in them contempt for
lawful authority and desire for mob
rule. 1t is hurtful and destructive to
the best interests of both.
we deplore, condemn and denounce
in unheasured terms criminal assaults
upon women by whomsoever committed,
and desire the apprehension and legal
punishment Of every criminal guilty of
the crime. All we ask is that the regu-
lar machinery of justice be employed,
and the accused given a fair and inn
partial trial-the course pursued with
white men charged with the same
Offense
I'm most of the Southern States your
people are in Il large majority, and in
all of them you are in absolute control.
Every branch of the, Government
executive, legislative and judicial-is
in your hands The judges are all white
men and the juroXs are almost exclusive
ly composed ofN white men. Colored
offenders have little chance for escape
when guilty of petty Offense, and if
guilty of a serious crime their conviction
is certain. This fact is known of all
men. There is, however, not the slight
est excuse or justification for a resort
to mob violence against colored crimi-
nails
The appeal goes on to say that
severity of punishment has had no
effect in decreasing crime, and that in
human and barbarous methods have
no terror for the criminals. The united
efforts of both races promptly and leg
ally to stamp out rapists wherever found
will more thoroughly and completely rid
communities of these miscreants than
the brutal acts of bloodthirsty and ire
sponsible mobs. The appeal closes as
follows:
Your oath of office impose upon you
the duty to execute the laws and pro-
tect the people, irrespective of race or
color. The reputation of your State,
your honor and the honor and reputation
of your people. demand that you rise
to the level of the occasion, vindicate
your assumption of the capacity to rule
by the restoration of the majesty of the
law, extending its fullest protection
to the humblest citizen under your juris-
diction.
Respectfully submitted,
"a. WALTERS,
president National Afro American
Council.
COMMITTEE on Appeal-P. B. S.
Pinchback, Jesse Lawson, Il. s. Smith,
Lucy e. Moten, l.. Thomas Fortune,
a. L. Albert, Lewis III. Douglass, Rob
ert Harlan and VIM. III. III. Hart"