The Minneapolis journal., 1901-10-11
A Defense Of Lynching.

To the Editor of The Journal
l have travelled all states south Of Massa-
chusetts and Michigan and east Of Kansas,
and am very much surprised at the feeling
eyinced both by press and public, relative to
the mode of Furnishing rapists in the south.
In my travels through the northwest have
given this matter considerable attention and
conversed with some Of your representative
people, mean people Of intelligence and re-
fnement, and find quite few deluded with
the thought that when woman is ravished,
mob of bowling hoodlums band together,
whose sole desire is to burn and kill every
unfortunate negro that should fall in their
clutches, and to satisfy an inanimate instinct
which Graves for the sight and sound of ago
nizing entreaties and human blood. This
may seem little strong, but the inferences
drawn from the expressions by as / said be-
fore, some OF your most intelligent people
would fortify even stronger constructions,
and does the south gross injustice.
Here is question / would like propounded
to every one who advocates that old stereo-
typed saying, Let the law take its course:
young girl Is sent to neighbours on some
trivial errand; on her way is intercepted by
a beast in human form, who brutally as
saults her, is apprehended, brought face to
face with his victim, positively identified,
confesses his crime, when asked why he did
it replies first, because he wanted to. I
What would any father do when confronted
with such terrible situation as this? Would
he or his friends be responsible for their ac
tions? / think not With us justice would
be meted out to him in the shape Of lynch
law and by w-abiding citizens and think
ing people Why? There are reasons too
numerous to mention. 1t makes no difference
how fiendish or how utterly devoid of princi
pie man may be, there is always certain
class of lawyers who for the almighty dollar
would resort to any means from perjury to
blackmal to obtain release OF his client
Law is tardy at best, full Of loopholes, ap-
peals. stays Of execution, ETC., all of which
allow a prisoner time and opportunities to
escape Suppose we were to conform strictly
to the principles and policies promulgated
by that mighty swerver of our country's
destinies, the ST. Paul Globe. What would
be the result? In the event we give him a
fair and impartial trial we subject the inno-
cent victim OF his fendish brutality to an
ordeal that is positively revolving She has
to answer and minutely define the most hu-
initiating questions, and to any one at all
familiar with law picture the cross -examina
ton. In the first place do not believe there
is father in the great state Of Minnesota q
mean a genteel American of the old school
who would not willingly lay down his life
such indignities, and who could blame him?
I think it was your paper that said If
Roosevelt were to appoint good democrat
to high federal positions in the south instead
of poor republican he would gain more
prestige for the republican party than any
president has in years. You are certainly
right In the event he did this he would at
least gain the gratitude and respect Of our
best people, which would be a. stepping stone
toward republican rehabilitation in my coun-
try, anyway. You say they (the republican
party) have practically no power. What can
be expected? People vote the democratic
ticket who are at heart republicans because
when we are under republican rule our federal
offices are filled by ignorant negroes Ca great
many of theml who compelled to employ
white people to do all the clerical work. As
long as this state Of affairs exists there will
be a feeling Of antagonism between north
and south #. B. Roberts.
Lake City, Fla.