The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-04-25


We were not surprised az the announce
ment that the negro preacher. Strickland,
had been lynched nor az the report that
| another negro. named SeweH, had been
! put TO death by those who participated
in The barbarous act Of burning the negro
/ Same Hose to death Il would not De
I surprising indeed If there should be Other
| lynchings soon. IN the section OF the STATE
In which the terrible affairs Of sunday
I and Sunday night occurred. The cond.-
/ ton o. the public mind there IS such that
an accusation appears 20 b ell that is
| necessary to bring about a lynching IF
such was not the case the negro preacher
and horribly muulated. Il may be that
he was guilty Of the crime with which
! Sam Hose charged him just before the
latter was burned TO death but the
chances are that Hose was 50 terrified
tbat re did no. know what he said. It is
certain, as far as the public knows. that
there was not satisfactory evidence against
strickland. \ part Of the mob realized
this. and tried 10 have Strickland turned
over 20 The authorities for trial.
These lynchings are deplorshle from
whatever point they may be viewed The
lyncters say that they must protect the
women Of the south aud probably some
Of them think that that is what they are
doing in taking the law into their own
hands bat The real motive OF a lynch
Ing mob is q desire for vengeance. l. il
could be shown that such har5arous acts
ls marked the lynching Of Hose and
Strickland had the effect Of checking the
crime for which lynchngs are the most
common there would be some excuse for
them. but that cannot be shown. We are
confident that punishment in accordance
with the law has a far greater effect in
preventing crime than punishment meied
out By mob. Mob law begets a spirit
that finds expression 10 the commission
OF crime. That this is so is shown by
the increase in the number Of lynchings.
The mistrial in the lake City g c.
case seemed 90 justify the opinion that
there is a growing sentiment against
lynch law. Otherwise there would not
have been FIVE members Of the jury in
favor Of finding the Lake City lynchers
guilty. The expressions in some quarters
apparently excusing the terrible affair of
Sunday in this state may check that sen
tlment It is to be hoped it will not, be-
cause no good can oome to this or any
other state, or 20 any community, from
such barbsrous and shocking affair as
that az Newman. It Is to the credit Of ex-
Gov. Atkinson that he exerted himself
TO the utmost to prevent it. The mob
knew he was right. but IFS desire for
vengeance was too strong TO be resisted.
What the Governor says about politics
being at the bottom Of the lynchings may
have some truth in It. and his advice
70 the leaders OF the negro race that
they must educate their people against
ouch crimes as those for which negroes
are Iynched are all very well. but IL lynch
ing Is to be checked in the least he must
as the chief executive, see no palliation
fo' mob law-he must throw the whole
weight Of hls great office against it.
What every good citizen wants is a stop
put to lynchings and 20 the crimes for
which negroes are most commonly
lynched. We believe that can be done
the quickest by insisting upon a vigorous
enforcement of the law against every v!o-
lator OF H.