The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-10-16
LYNCHING AND ITS CAUSES.

We print elsewhere today an interest
Ing and thoughtful letter from Mr. ]. ].
Laughinghouse, a patriotic citizen of Pitt
county, upon the subject of "Lynching
and Some of it's Causes
The remedy offered by Mr. Laughing
house is one that ought to receive the
serious consideration of makers and
all good citizens. This paper has long
urged a change in the present law which
gives the prisoner SIX times as many per-
emptory challenges as the State is al
lowed, but Legislators have session after
session voted down the amendments pro-
posed The agitation for this needed
change ought to be continued until the
Legislature will be constrained to en-
act it,
We do not believe that lynching is ever
justifiable though there are cases, like
when the outraged father and friends can
not be blamed for invoking Judge Lynch
in the first rush of their righteous in
dignation. But it ought never to be in
voked and ought not to be advocated. II
good men, justly indignant, refuse to
abide by the law, how can they compel
others to be amenable to law?
The laws ought to be amended so as
to make more certain that guilty men are
convicted. The acquittal-through the
large number of peremptory' challenges,
packing juries Ga very rare occurrence, we
believe), technicalities, or any other
agency-of notorious criminals has done
much to break down respect for law and
to encourage lynching. The too free and
unwise use OF the pardoning power has
also tended to make men doubt whether
the criminal would receive the full penal
ty for his crime. Governor Aycock has
considering applications only after pub
LEGATION. Pardons ought to be granted only
in extreme cases. The exercise of the
right was not given to defeat the win of
juries, but only in the few cases that
arise afterwards to prevent the infection,
of punishment that, under new conditions.
would be stain upon the State. Pardons
in any other cases are indefensible and
dangerous.
We are in hearty accord with Governor
Aycock's brave and manly attempt TO
crush out lynching. His attitude is the
one that the Chief Executive of the State
ought to occupy and it will have a salu-
tary effect.
We trust and believe that he will press
his opposition in every proper way, thus
ought never to be invoked, but that the
law ought always to deal with criminals,
the worst as we'll as the ordinary offend
ers. The means to this end are debata-
BILE. Wo do not agree with the sugges-
tion that the Governor offer a reward
for those who lynch brutal rapist
whose guilt is established. That is a
remedy too drastic and one which puts
the lives of men who act under natural
impulse in the hands of sneak who
would betray them for money We do
not agree with Mr.. Laughinghouse's prop
osition that such men ought to be lynch
ed, but we would have only contempt, Cor
example, for any man who would betray
the neighbors, for example, who lynched
the brute in Arson county for commit
ting the nameless crime upon a pure
young woman few weeks ago. OF course
they committed crime, of course they
violated the law, and of course they will
all their lives regret the occurrence. But
they were moved thereto by the rush of
indignation that will dominate any true
man in the first hours after he knows of
such a crime, and are not to be classed
with criminals Their act is not to be
approved. 1t is to be condemned but
there is no remedy except in creating a
better respect for the law. Burke long
ago laid it down that you cannot indict
y&~1-