The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-05-04
rRoF. NoA ON THE GEORGIA HORROR.
The Disgrace of American Civilization at
the South Must Bs Prevented.

tho south Must he Prevented.
To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Sir: No saw
ages In the interior OF darkest Asia or Africa
have ever displayed such mercenary brutality
IA the mobs OF Palmetto. Ga. who have been
allowed. unchecked and unpunishod. to engage
in a series Of lynchings. burnings and torture.
and to establish a reign of terror.
Where is the William Lloyd Garrison who
will thunder forth words as harsh as truth?
Where Is tho Harriet Becchcr Stowe who will
rouse the dormant and blunted conscience OF
n nation that %tolcrates and even con-
dones a practice as iniquitous IA black
slavery itse.fH Why has Senator George f..
Hoar been wasting his energy in a
wordy dlsputation about the delicate and
perplex ny Philippine problem. instead Of
boldly attacking Il darker evil ut home that
saps ut the vitality Of republican institutions
and democratic liberty? How is it that he. tho
son Of the man who was driven out Of south
Carolina for striving to defend the rights OF
Massachusetts, colored seamen. accepted the
hospitality OF the same State OF South Carolina,
and had not n word Of ondemnatio or warn
ing to utter concerning lynchinR?
Two negroes have been tortured and killed
--one Of them probably guilty Of the foulcst
crimes an individual can commit; the other.
E; sthr every TE. PresumRtio9 . Of inn9ce = in his
the second fell a victim to the blind. unreason-
ing fury Of a bloodthirsty rabble.
outraged his wife. Suspicion fell. upon one
tSs s Hose who Th vas arrested and o, deiiyered tt9 to
the courage to defend his prisoner. and sur
5rendered him to a bowling. infuriated mob;
on, horseback to witness and take part in a re.
voting spectacle. at. which the .inquisltors Of
m%sedieval Spain, might have blushed.
The mob, with a keen eye to the financial
nhreeeipt for the negro n prisoasr.u thus making
srrest to the sheriff OF Campbell county Of one
s Sr1 Hosem Ai nti. a :, hat at the home OF
who identified Hose. the, bowling. delirious
poIuiace moved on, selected a suitable spot
chains. piled up wood. set It on fire. and not
11eayd H Snt sac hi@a S b. PSS oay NIL, kf HOiyas' S Sysr hti
the hopored ek-Gov: Atkinson q Georgia was
who leveIled 9 pistol at him
MWhen the vilest and most bruta! instincts Of a
cess to another. Before he met his frightful
death San Hose made, a confession and impli-
% Sh,ed 6 Sn ssg Lie ds prHaIssS 10 a pI EsES5G rim 9 ssS { & Ss
would kill Crawford. the white farmer. Strick-
land was accordingly torn from his wife and chill
one OF the. most distinguished former State
Senators Of Georgia. pleaded In vain for the
declared his conviction that Strickland never
owned so the sum supposed to have been
OlltItu ny MN IOT lTun1OTuS mlTltT. ne
brave Major. Thomas did his duty. but at the
risk OF his life. and he later told the messenger
OF the mob. who warned him to leave the county
ior his own good. that he had faced a thousand
Yankee bullets, and tho muscles in his legs
were not trained for running.
Thus persisted Strickland. the negro preach
err. three times having had the moose drawn
round his neck and thrice let down. to extort a
confession out OF him. but to the last protest
ing his innocence.
Senator George F. Hoar draws a lurid picture
OF the American flag having been hauled down
from Independence Hall because the United
stable government In the Philippines. to fulfill
International obligations, and to protect life.
liberty and property, Why does he not turn
South and West. where the Constitution Is
trampled under foot, the flag disgraoed, the
sacred guarantees OF justice denied. and the
sordid gain. allowed to run rampant.
For torty years lynchings have prevailed. and
the crimes they have sought to suppress have
only intensified In enormity and frequency.
70 realize that something must be done to effec-
lively stamp out the practice OF lynching. Prob
ably the suggestion. OF Mrs. Louie N. Gordon OF
Atlanta is the most feasible-that the system of
every rural district maintain an efficient militia.
prepared to crush lawlessness and disorder
In backward and barbarous localities. and by
other vile criminals. black and white. The In
auguration OF such a military system undoubt-
eddy means a step toward a more centralized
and despotic form OF government bnt the cause
such a departure inevitab BILE. Lynchlng and
the revival OF burning at the stake and ofother
even II tho whole United states should be
obliged to come under the sway Of an enlight-
ened despot like Cromwell. +. NJ. NoA.
ErNEyA n Y Nav