The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1901-06-29
LYNCH LAW.

l
lualifcations.:on the electiveitranchise
and thus eliminating the great mass OF
ignorant negro voters from the elective
body in the State. Mississippi was the
first of the Southern States to abolish
the Infamous system OF convict leasing,
originally established in the State by a
Republican administration.
The State is spending with the
counties and separate school districts
nearly two millions Of public money for
the education OF the children of both
races. The humane and charitable
institutions OF the State are maintained
by adequate and generous appro-
priations. Mississippi has a State
government that is admirable, public
spirited and efficient. While there
are many things that rebound to the
credit and good pame Of the State there
is one matter OF great public Importance
that should claim the earnest and
serious attention Of the people OF the
whole State, and that is the subject OF
lynch law.
It is an absolute impossibility that
this form OF lawlessness is to be fixed
upon the people OF this State as one OF
its permanent institutions. 1t is
against the fundamental principles, not
only of Christianity, but OF modern
civilization. 1t is murder, not only
according to the laws OF Almighty God,
but according to the laws of the State.
1t is a most harmful and demoralizing
form OF lawlessness.
While there are thousands OF people
in the State who are opposed to mob
law, there is a widespread public
sentiment that cit her condones or APP
proves it. Mob law is absolutely indie
fensible in any civilized community
with a lawfully established govern
ment, for whatever crime that a
criminal may be charged with. But
lvnchines are not confined TO one crime
for the most obvious and simple reason,
that when the line is once crossed and
the principal OF law and order is
abandoned in one instance the whole
field is lost, and it is simply left to the
mob TO decide in what matters it will
exercise its usurped and self-assumed
prerogative.
Persons are lynched for all manner
of offences, among which are the
crimes Of murder, manslaughter,
burglary, -robbing, arson, train
wrecking. assault and battery. Instance
after instance is constantly occurring 10
demonstrate the truth of this assertion.
II lynching was confined, as its advo-
Gates falsely assume, to one OF the
capital felonies, then the question
would be whether this IS the only
efficient and effective remedy for the
crime. But this is not the case, for on
the contrary, lynching for the more
ordinary and usual offences is not an
uncommon occurrence.l 1t is a spectacle
constantly presented to the public now
view. 1t would be invidious to particu'
larize the localities fand the occasions
II the public sentiment does no
openly approve this indiscriminant'
application Of lynch law, it permits
and condones it,. when it could by
earnest and active protest reform thi'
practice, or bring it within muci
narrower limits. All reforms mus
have a beginning, and no bad or vicious
public evils can be abolished with on
stroke, 1t would be we'll, therefore
for the advocate OF law and order tn
patriotic and moral people OF the State
who know that this form of lawle' IS
ness is a great public evil, to begl
this reform by cooperating hearth.
with the officials In the State, in secur
ing the punishment OF the member
of a mob that lynches q mar for an
crime-except one capital felony. Lynch
ing for this particular crime W
donot condemn. This would, how
ever, decrease TIL e lynchings t
less than oue-fourth OF the numbe
now occurring every year. Lynching
could thus be minimiZed in the state
and when Il lynching becomes a rare
or occasional, occurrence the people {
the State will then find themselves i
a fair way of the settlement by lawfu
methods of the whole problem OF mo
violence.
Many tAoughtful persons believ
that the hanging of a 'criminal afte
a fair trial by an officer OF the law,
a more effective and powerful obiec
lesson than the performance of tn
mob, with all its barberous detail
There is great force in this view. A
all events, we will not be in a positio
to consider or discuss the relativ
} effectiveness of these two methods
punishment for the one capital felon
until the lynchings are confined
that crime, nor is it proposed 10 discus
this question at this time. For III
usual felvnies, all persons in the Stat
who have any influence, or money, {