The leader., 1900-01-24

TO be used by the association in pro.
curing, printing, preserving and dis.
seminating the historical information
obtained by it. The declared purpose
of the society, as expressed in its char
ter, furnish ample proof of the wisdom
and public beneficence of the associa-
ton, while the known perfect integri-
ty, great intelligence and consummate
loyalty to the State of those compos-
ing the association furnish sufficient
guarantee of the faithful and proper
use of the fund if allowed. | hope,
therefore, the legislature will unhesi-
tatingly make the very moderate ap-
preparation asked for.
LIBERALITY TO CAPITAL.
1t is perhaps meet to say here that
now when the tidal wave of new indus
trial development seems to have struck
the State and capital is hunting in
vestment here, liberal and just
legislative policy should be pursued
toward all kinds of corporations and
corporate interests. 1t should be re
membered that no country ever be
came truly prosperous or great where
a becoming regard was not shown for
the equal rights of both labor and
capital by the laws, the courts, and the
people. Experience has shown it to be
wise State policy to extend liberal
franchises and privileges to such cor
porate enterprises as offer mutual
benefit to labor and the public gener-
ally, as well as to the money they EN-
ploy. ! confidently hope, therefore,
that no mere sentimental or preiudi-
cial opposition to railroads or other
corporate enterprises will find favor
with the legislature, so that capital
hunting investment will have no just
cause to pass Mississippi and go to
other States offering wiser legitimate
inducements
SUPPRESSION OF MOBS.
But it may be we'll to consider in
this connection that though Missis-
sippi possesses just such advantages of
climate, soil and undeveloped raw ma
terial as should prove the greatest
tempter to the immigrant hunting
home and the capitalist looking for
profitable investment for his money.
both will be slow to go where life and
property are not sacredly respected by
the people and protected by the courts
and the law Though it is true that
the State is attracting attention be
cause of the unequaled advantages it
offers capital by way of profit in manu-
featuring, yet, mark my prophecy, the
State can never attain that magnificent
degree of prosperity and grandeur of
statehood that of right should be hers
so long as public opinion permits the
high handed mob to treat the law with
contempt, defy the courts and officers.
and murder the people without prose
cutiOn or punishment. 1t must be ad.
mitted that the work of the mob is not
of infrequent occurrence in the State.
Though this is painful fact to admit,
and one which for reasons of political
policy it might be best left unsaid. yet
it is fact about which, for the public
good, every aw-abiding citizen should
be bold to speak in condemnation. The
4 Mt nf 20 40
governor shall see that the laws are
faithfully executed" But experience
in all republics shows that the officers
alone, however faithful in their efforts
to uphold the majesty of the law, must
fail of the full measure of success
unless aided and sustained by cour-
ageous public opinion. | hail then
this opportunity as auspicious for an
appeal to the legislature and people to
stand by the incoming administration
in the enforcement of the law and the
suppression of mobs. Lynchng first
found toleration, and then justification
in the State in a sublime respect for
the virtue and honor of our white
women, and true to the rule in this as
in other cases where public opinion
either cOndones or approves the dis
regard of the law, incentive is thus
given to other acts of lawlessness and
so on ad infinitum. AS a common
sequence, therefore, lynching to-day
in the State is visited upon the suspect
not only of rape, but of homicide
house burning and even lesser accusa-
tions and offenses, and yet the mobist,
though in many instances acting with
out mask or disguise, has, with but
few exceptions, gone his way without
punishment or even Indictment, so far
as the public has been advised. |
apprehend the mob spirit is no greater
in Mississippi than in other States
where similar race intolerance exists.
and yet, we are forced to admit it is
on the increase here, which fact may
we'll be taken as proof most true that
there exists either morbid increase
of lawlessness against which mob law
as a corrective has utterly failed, or
that there is a growth of intolerance
among the white people against the
negroes, who are the most usual vic
Tins of the mob, inspiring rash and
hasty vengeance for acts which the
law does not regard so highly penal as
to merit punishment by death. The
law in its amplitude provides proper
and commensurate punishment for all
manner of crime. 1t, however, i'm
poses the death penalty alone on those
guilty of murder, arson and rape, and
under our present judicial system
with honest, able aud courageous