New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-06-17
LYNCHING BY NEGROES.

The lynchinc OF a negro by negroes the other
day in Mississippi is something new IN the an
nails of mob law. The privilege OF taking the
law into its own hands" is ore that has hitherto
belonged exclusively TO the Caucasian race
When the negroes take up the practice even to
punish one of their own rascals II Is the slgnal
for some serious thinking. The black lynchers
who did ii conducted themselves IN the most
exemplary manner possible to persons engaged
in their occupation. They were perfectly or
DERBY. and INDUCED in none OF the 1endish
orgies that the white mob had commended to
them for such occasions. They had two pris-
oners implicated in the crime they wished to
nunIsh. but were somewhat doubtful OF the
guilt of one while that of the other. we be-
ieve was clearly established. With remark
able self-control and caution the mob dlscrm-
mated between the two, and only executed the
man of certain guilt.
Altogether II was a model lynchng, but IT
was n porteptous one 1t Is all well enough,
the Mississippi community may think, FOR
negroes to hang n black man who attacks a
black woman. Such an act tends to show the
necessity of lynching and TO justify the whites
for hanging negroes without warrant or law
But there Is no telling when the negro mon
NAV extend It's operations and kill white men
who wrong blacks. Then 1t Is only step to
n race war. The negro mob Is no more to be
trusted than the white mob. The latter was
generally sober when the practice first started,
but Indulgence in lawlessness soon awakened
reckless bloodthrsty passions and turned loose
the lurking hend In human nature. As the
negro race is less civilized TO start with, we
may expect that its mob will the sooner de-
generate, though, being made up Of q naturally
doce easy-golng people, 1t may make less ag-
gressively for anarchy But the whites cannot
look on unconcerned while the negroes learn
lessons in lynch law. and thoughtful men
among them understand the significance of the
first attempt at emulation. 1.-THE Nashville
American" sounds this warning Of the danger:
The appearance Of n negro mob overpowering
the officers or the law. taking away prisoner
and hanging him is danger to the stability OF
Law and the preservation OF order which must
not be underestimated. The vast majority OF
negroes are ignorant and irresponsible. Can
any man argue himself into the belief that Il
is SAFE TO allow them to form mobs, to break
in jails. and ove-power sherffs? What will this
mob law by the negroes not lead to? Instead
OF forming mobs for the one henous crime, will
they not soon begin 10 form them TO punish
lesser crimes? And may we not look forward
TO seeing them initiate the whites ana hang
men because they are persona non grata In
community? The time TO stop the breaking
down Of law is al the beginning before IT has
had time to poison public sentiment Manifest.
w. Il Is unsafe for negroes to form the habit OF
meeting In mobs for any purpose whatsoever.
especially in those portions OF the South where
they far outnumber the whites.
Every word of that Is true. The wonder 10
that the dominant race did not long ago learn
what naturalization OF lynching meant. 1t Is
also n wonder that the negroes long left TO
the whites monopoly In II, and that their first