Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1901-08-10

Miss. was one of the most horrible afro
cities as yet chronicled. These people
were confessedly not guilty of any
crime whatever. 1t is only alleged that
they knew something about it.
Proof was submitted and uncontro-
verified that they were not present when
Mr.. and Mrs. TALIAFERRo were murder
ed, but the mob would hear no reason
Their blood was demanded and they
were conducted under the hill quarter
of mile from town and the two wom-
en- and man hanged and their body rid
died with bullets.
Yes, we say two women were hanged.
Hanged without evidence, hanged
without being guilty, hanged in the face
of their protestation of innocence, hang
ed against the pleadings of the best
white citizens of that county, hanged
although the son of the murdered peo-
pie protested against the hanging, yes,
hanged while the Governor was enroute
to beg the mob to respect the law.
These murderers did this and the only
remark that Gov LONGING makes is that
Mississippi is again disgraced-and why?
He hadthe armed forces of the State at
his disposal. He had the United States
troops at his command. Re had citizens
of color who would have accepted arms
and organized posses either to hunt
down the murderers or TO protect the in
nocent, but he used none of these re-
sources.
He permitted two innocent women
and man to be lynched. Oh, it was
pitiful!
We believed that BETSY prayed for
herself and asked Gods blessings ON her
children. She had no doubt led an up
right life. All of the white people who
knew her seemed to be friendly TO her
cause.
But the Glow ground" whites would
hear no reason. 1t was the work of the
mob, and between the heavens and the
earth, their bodies Were swung up while
the crack of rifles and and whirr of the
musSets released their spirits for flight
to the other world.
What shall we do in the premises?
This is the question. What would
white men do under similar circumstan-
! ces?
Answer that question, and you have
the answer. AS for our part, we know
what we would do. Had we lived in
| the neighborhood, we would have ask
! ed no greater favor than to have been
permitted 20 die in the defense of those
two innocent women and man whose
souls have gone on before.
The law must be upheld at all haz-
! ards. Brutal towards, whether white or
black must be taught a lesson and brave
chivalric white and black men should
\ stand ready 10 do it.
Were a mob of colored men to attempt
to lynch two white women and white
man, we should stand out against it and
be as forward in their defense as in the
cases cited. 1t is the principle for which
we are contending.
Every colored man should own a re-
peating rife and shot gun with nerve
enough to use it.
Every mob should be made to carry
one or more of their number back home
as silent testimonial of the unerring
! aim of some Negro, whom they went
out to lynch.
When this is done, the popularity OF
the "rope route" by lawless parties will
begin to wane and colored men will find
protection in the lonely sections of the
Southland.
Mississippi has her constitution per-
petuating white mans government.
1t was declared TO be great panaces
for race prejudice. What good has il
accomplished? What rights for .us at.
! tainel?
4 1t is sham and deception enacted
by designing parties and meant to de.
ceive the country at large.
We are disguised and emphasize the
fact that the exercise of back bone and
the presence of manhood will cause
lynch-law to go and the lynchers with
lit