The Lamar register., 1901-08-14
A VOICE FROM THE DARKNESS

consin speech Senator Tillman only
spoke ror the minority sof Intelligent
white inen IN the South. and that even
that minority had subordinated Its in
telligeuce to its prejudices and Its pas
sions. There are many thousands of
solid men in that section to whom the
blatant and brutal philosophy of the
South Carolina senator is as disgust
ing as it is to anyone IN the, North, per-
haps more SO, because they realize the
injury that such coarse and conscience
less sentiments. may work to their in
terests., They are not as notorious as
he, because they do not advertise
themselves as.thoroughly,a but they are
nevertheless heard on occasions. -
The progress of the Alabama State
Constitutional Convention, now in ses-
sion, is being watched with much in
terest, not only in that state, but all
over the country. Ito made n false
step when 1t adopted the "grnndfather
clause" but it did something TO atone
for 1t when it Incorporated another
clause giving the governor power to
remove IL sheriff who failed to do his
duty in defending q prisoner against
mob violence. This, of course, points
directly to the reduction Of lynch law
in the state and the credit of It's adop-
tion'' belongs largely to Ex-Governor
Thomas G. Jones of Montgomery,
who, prior to the gathering OF the con-
vention. and during Its deliberations,
Has given much earnest and valuable
counsel to the people Of his state. Per
haps, should this amendment be con-
firmed, there are some governors who
wouid not use the power thus given
them, but there hre others who would,
one of whom, we believe, is Governor
Jones. ".T I 3. la5w
z In I'm elaborate argument in favor
Of the amendment, Governor Jones
made the startling but doubtless true
statement that ''in the last ten years
over one hundred citizens Of Alabama
have been taken by mobs from sher-
iffs and Jails and murdered" This
record does not include those who were
lynched before the officers of the law
had them in custody, which would
swell the bloody list considerably. Yet
more than twO-thirds Of those thus
murdered were not even suspected of
the crime which is always instanced as
n Justification of such extreme meas
ures. "These mob executions" said
lie, "nre brutalizing our children,
bunting our religion and undermining
our civilization. Can" anyone in the
sound of my voice rise up and say
that this Is mot, SO d We are under
; mining all noble ideals Of duty and
manhood" ~ ..Cl. tl.f G '
Ills state and his country owe Gov
ernor Jones gratitude and honor for
the patriotic stand he has taken. He
has labored as earnestly,, as Intelligent
ly and as unselishly In championing
the rights OF the helpless citizens of
his state as ever Samuel Adams did In
defending the rights of the colonies.
He may not win success, but he will
do the better thing, which is ito, de-
serve It. Such check upon mob vio-
lence would place Alabama in this i'm
portant respect in advance of all 9TH
er southern states. 1twould give con-
fidence and encouragement to capital.
1t would be an earnest of a better CIV
ilization. 1t would safeguard the laws
sanctity and help to set up higher
standards of justice. 1t would be n
practical antidote to such social poison
as Tiliman and Bonaparte have been
Observation-Disclosures Transcript.
Hf Ir huH N.4aIA IF =. g5H