Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1901-08-09
FRIDAY. AUGUST .. 1901.
LYNCH

The men in high official stations
who encourage lynchings, and by vlo-
lent appeals stir up race prejudice, are
perhaps worse even than those who en-
gage in the pleasant pastime Of string
ing up negroes or burning them at the
stake. One who is prominently before
the people should exercise care In the
uttorance Of innammatory opinions,
since violent men are always ready to
use such emanations as the excuse for
crime and outrage. The spectacle of a
senator representing a sovereign state
standing before q vast audience
and defending mob law is enough TO
cause men TO ask whittier are we tend
ing.
While the Northern States have not
been altogether free from the crime of
lynching, it is in the South that it has
grown and fourished There 1t has hadl
many violent defenders. under the Pre-
text that il Is the only method that is
effective i'm breaking up mnamablel
outrages But It is from this standpoint
that the practice may be criticised; itl
does not deter brutes from thet commits
sion of the crime. since only a little
cunning is required to throw the mob
upon the scent of some other negro.
and he Is instantly murdered without
opportunity TO protest his innocence,
Mob violence always shows a con7l
tempt for law II is an open declafa
ton that the courts cannot, or will not,
deal with criminals effectively. Every
such violent demonstration is blot
upon the fair name Of the State la
which it occurs, and stamps it as un-
able to enforce it's own statutes, To
stand before vast audience, as Sena-
tor Tillman did, and declare that the
Southern people by these lynchings are
protecting the honor Of their women
is a fraudulent plea. Can an unrca-
soning mob, frenzied with excitement,
protect the honor of anyone? There is
no trial. no serious effort to ascertain
the truth of the charge, no certainty
that the real culprit has been captured.
When such a crime has been commit
ted the mob is satisfied at the capture
and execution OF any man of a blach
skin. In several instances when az
outrage has been reported, several blacl
men have been slaughtered in reveng,
for the act of a single man.
To encourage lynching is TO familiar
ize the people with crime, to fire th'
blood and appeal to primitive savage
instincts. II is a lesson for the youns
which will not be lost during man
hood. For the perpetratOr OF thi
nameless outrage justice should b
sure and swift, but no man in civil
lied country should be put An leopard
of his life without an impartial trii
to ascertain his guilt or innocence Tn
action of the vigilance committees
the West have been cited as example
of the salutary effect of putting veI
geance directly into the hands Of u
masses, but this offers no parallel. II
vigilance committees acted in the a
senoe of the law, and their work W.
conducted with many OF the necessai
adjuncts OF a legal trial. while lyme
ings are the act Of frenzied and u
reasoning mob.
Many Of the best citizens of I
South are rising in protest at the co
tinuance Of system that does SO mu
injustice and brutalizes The poop
They agree with Booker T. Washir
ton that the salvation Of both ra'
depends upon the industry and intel
genoe OF each. A race which has be
in ignorance and slavery for C
turtles. should not be expected to 81
denly exemplify all the virtu
neither is there wonder that there
occasional outbreaks OF brutal passi
These cannot be excused nor on
looked, but the negro is confronted
the bitter fact that the admixture
white and negro blood so common
the South, was not crime Of his {
race.
The whole negro question is a deli
matter that requires tolerance, ed
ton and the elevating qualities Of
ligion. The negro must struggle
tienty towards that elevated plan
which he aspires. And the white ]
mindful Of the wrongs he has I'M
ed. and hopeful for a peaceful fu
in which the races shall work in
mony side by side should lend hi
helping hand.
The worst thing about drivi
"nolar" cat into its hole is that il