The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1901-11-27

| ''yi LII utNho, u.
contemplate the future with somethip,
AKIN TO terror, and confess themsely
tied hand and foot to situation from
which it seems impossible to breal
away without Fastening the very thine
They fear. They believe that to turf
over TO the law black liend who has
raped defcDscless white woman anC
made over her whole life into livina
hell would inevitably tend to multiply
rapts and practically put all our women
at the mercy of the lustful brutes.
Their explanation of the situation
as 1t is now found in the South NAV
not be entirely satisfactory to the deni-
zens OF the cities and the dwellere
amidst predominant white popula-
tlon, but L will try To give it as it was
gwen To me by some of the most con-
scrvative. most thoughtful, and most
wise citizens of the South.
L. The natural barbarism of our
human nature, whose first impulse is
10 wreak vengeance for an outrage, is
10 be always considered, for, as n mat
ter OF fact, neither individuals nor COM
munitics ever get far away from nature
and that is human nature.
2. From the earliest times i'm the
south seduction has always resulted IN
cltner What is known as military
wcdding," or Il homicide. The COM
mnnity has always supported the family
OF the seduced woman for killing the
seducer if he would not redeem the
situation as far as possible by marriage.
Ii That was the result where there was
conscnt," how much more certainly
would homicide be the result where
there was force nscd to accomplish the
ruin OF WOman--whcre there was
rapcf n white man would no more
escape than negro. If the white
man must pay with his life for rape,
now much moro certainly negro for
the rape of white woman, where in
addition the revolt of all the instincts
OF race was involved9
3. In many if not most rural COM
munities in The South the white popu-
lation is very small compared with the
negro population. The whites are
really at the mercy of the blacks, if
The latter but once should get the no
ton that there is reasonable hope of
escape. For there are always enough
vicious negroes in every community
ready TO commit the crimes of lust if
they can do so and yet escape justice
or vengeance. Lynching ls resorted to
not merely to wreak vengeance but to
tcrrorize the negro.
la ruI,
bodies OF negro laborels-every one
with whom talkcd-bclieves that the
average negro fears nothing so much
as force. The whites believe that the
moment the negro ceases TO fear the
power of the white man crimes will
rapidly ncrease-crimes of the most
revolving character. Among the ne
| grocs, criminals, when the crime is
committed against white man, attain
to certain heroic character, and are
the objects of q certain sort of admira-
ton which they crave and rejoice in.
The conviction is general that terror is
the only restraining influence with the
average negro.
S. Tie negroes, even the best OF
them, will ordinarily conceal fleeing
negro, assist him In his flight, and
Whenever practicable, protect him
and this without regard to the require.
ments of justice or tho character of his
Offense.
6. The famously slow processes Of
the law and the frequent miscarriages
of justice. In New Orleans a few
months ago a negro insulted refined
white woman, was arrested and pu
upon his trial. Tho woman put aside
her modesty and went on the witness
stand and testified to the facts. 'Th,
facts were outrageous and cruel. TIL,
lawyer for the defense succeeded in de
ferring the case some months upon
technicality, and later the brute upol
| conviction got only three months
, sentence. One such cise as that doe
away with the confidence IN the lay
engcndered by n hundred cases wher
{ justice is accomplished, and The min
of the people turns TO lynching as TIL
{, only certain remedy.
Q IL you call their attention TO th
8 fact that lynching does not stop rap'
Q their answer is, No, but it prevents
: more than any other process would d'
!, Tho thinking men of the South r,
allze the horror of their situation; the
see that mob law is coming to be I'll
law for all sorts of crimes, and that 1t
{ beginning to be used even in priva
quarrcls and against the whites then
|, selves. They think it is cruelty
r. serve them with condemnation, WHIT
l. they need tho sympathy and assistant
10 of that portion of our people who Ii
10 securely amid Il predominant viii
p- population. 1t Is easy TO prescri
~ practically impossible premises,
BY you can by such means get no satisfs
,g tory or adequate result.
CT IL will need the best wisdom and 1
" beat conscience and the best heart
or our whole people, of the North and
~ the South, TO lead us out of the da
III ness anil The horror Of The pres:
ey situation.