The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1901-09-12
LYNCHINGS NORTH AND SOUTH.
Some Recent Events Which Are
Worthy OF Attention from the
North.
Washington Post.

Washington Post.
Recent events in Alabama are
worthy the attention of our Northern
friends who are so concerned about
the "barbarOus cruelties." visited
upon Il certain class OF negro crimi-
nails at the South. 1t is always
necessary to dwell upon such in
stances as these we have in mind, be-
cause the philanthropists in this part
of the country. while they ses every
lynching without fail, are rather dis
posed to overlook the efforts OF law
abiding men to uphold the majesty
of the law. Efforts are made, never
theless-efforts attended by more
risk than lecturers in safe places are
perhaps aware of-and not seldom
success is achieved only at the cost
of bOodshed.
Less than two weeks ago, for ex-
ample, Hon. john Pelham, Circuit
Judge in the Northern part of Ala
bama, State. not Federal official,
assisted by Solicitor Coleman and the
sheriff of St. Clair county, held at
bay an Infatuated mob bent upon
lynching a negro who had been found
guilty of the objectionable crime.
In the heart Of mountain district
and beset by desperate and fearless
men, Judge Pelham, with the help of
a handful Of volunteers, beat back the
would-be lynchers. He asked for no
militia. He took his life in his hands
and saved the negro from a violent
and lawless death. 1t was not easy as
may be believed by anyone acquaint-
ed with the people of Northern Ala
bama, their ideas and their customs.
The representatives Of the law had
to shoot, and shoot straight. before
the mob could be convinced that
death awaited them in any further
prosecution of their bloody plans.
Two or three had been killed outright
and several others wounded when they
reached the conclusion that law and
order had indomitablc protectors for
that occasion, at least, and that sub
mission was the wiser and better
course.
Still more recently, in the case of a
lynching actually accomplished with
in fifty miles of the capitol of the
State, Montgomery, a leader has al
ready been sent to prison for life,
two OF his coadiutors have received
sentences for ten years, and another
is on trial with every prospect Of re-
ceiving similar punishment.
The trouble with the South's critics
and accusers is that they ignore
occurrences of this kind, although
there are many of which they night
readily inform themselves, and con-
centrate their energies in a denuncia-
ton OF the lynchings which are not
prevented. AS a matter of fact. how
ever, these mob executions take place
very often at the North, especially in
such States as Ohio, Indiana and
Kansas-much oftener than at the
South, if we consider the negro popu-
lation-and we have yet to hear of an
instance in which lyncher has been
arrested, tried, and punished, if, in
deed, any serious attempt has been
made in that direction. Northern
people who write and declaim on this
subject, always with the Southern
people as their horrible examples,
need to strengthen their position at
the earliest possible moment. First,
they should keep careful! account OF
the Northern lynchings, with view
to odious comparisons. Secondly,
they should make an estimate of the
efforts made by the two sections to
prevent this kind of violence, and the
character of punishment inflicted
where prevention has not been pos
sible. 1t is our opinion that the
South will make a very favorable
showing in this respect as contrasted
with the North, and that. grea,
many gentlemen now complacently
engaged in Representing their South,
ern fellow-citizens will find that they
have profitable employment for any
amount OF such eloquence at home.
There is just one remedy for lynch.
ing, and it is idle to talk of any other
The communities that are the victims
of one particular crime must be
taught-not by precept, but by un.
varying example-that such outrages
will be promptly, certainly, and ter,
ribly avenged through the agencies
of justice. In default of that assur.
ance, made doubly sure by unmistak.
able and overwhelming proof, all the
preaching in the world will avail
nothing, If the law docs not give
them vengeance quick and thorough
men will take it for themselves.