New-York tribune., 1901-08-27
TOO SENSITIVE.

Some of our Southern friends VINO uepIoIe
lvnchings are too sensitive by half They urge
their people 70 refrain from hangings and burn
ings. but the instant anybody in the North takes
the side Of the law abiding element and tries TO
arouse them to put down the mobs which wrong
them and the whole country they are impelled
~ rurn upon the would be worker for civiliza-
lion as an enemy and apologize for the bar
harlan outbreak The Tribune recently COM
mented on an Alabama burning at which.
according TO The Montgomery Advertiser, the
spectators 'all shouted for joy, and spoke OF
the degenerating influence Of lawlessness ana the
tendency Of the vicious elements OF society 10
turn what was once a stern sort of irregular
Justice into a bloodthirsty sport. The Nash
Vile Banner" chdes us for this view, thinks
that it shows prejudice and too great willing
ness 70 believe evil OF the South. 1t suggests
that the Alabama manifestation was not JOY,
but hysteria, and says:
The lvnchings are hut the manifestation OF
( outraged feeling and rash vengeance ana they
are not confined 10 the South. They are wrong
wherever perpetrated, hut the human nature
that induces them is the same everywhere. ana
the hysterical madness which seizes upon the
mob IS not to be taken manifestation OF the
spirit of the whole community
The Tribune did not say that the mob mani
tested the spirit of the whole community and
begs its Southern readers, as il has frequently
done before TO try TO believe that it does not
speak from prejudice or wish to misrepresent
or abuse the South It Is trying to bring civil
/ lied people, North and South, to realize what
/ the liberation Of lawlessnesS means, and TO
arouse them 10 put down the vicious minority
! who are lowering American character. Colorado
or Ohio or New-York lynchers are denounced as
vigorously as those of the South, and il would
seem that the true friends of order should
bal,, 70
the people of this country of the evils of lynch
ing Something. indeed, must be conceded to
local pride: but when Southern writer's COM
ment on the iniqultics OF Tammany DO not
tell them they in a sectional spirit libelling
/ this community, but rather tell them to keep
/ up the good work and help us II they can. TO
shame the respectable majority who tolerate the
disgrace to arouse themselves and put down
! the robbers If our wish were to hurt the
South we should encourage the growth Of bar
barian instincts there instead of trying 10 make
people realize the danger and praising every
Southern statesman who, Ike Ex-Governor
Jones Of Alabama, takes a brave stand against
| lynching. and every Southern official who like
Sheriff North, boldly upholds the law, if need be.
with rifle bullets. This is not a question for the
South alone though the Iynching disease hap
pens 10 be most prevalent there 1t is spread
ing 1t threatens American civilization every
where. 1t is familiarizing the vicious elements
even In our most thoroughly polced cities with
! the idea of lawless vengeance on any helpless
individual or race happening, with reason or
without IT, 70 arouse the resentment of a crowd.
We would not misrepresent the South. We
believe the vast majority of its people deplOre
the barbarities which have taken place among
/ them Many of them however unfortunately
have apologiZed for lynchings instead of sternly
repressing them. The evil has grown a
. result: lynchings have become more savage.
lives are taken for less heinous offences. and
! frequently perfectly innocent men have been
killed by mobs with a taste for blood and deter
mined to have a victim Our Nashville critic
processes with undOubted sincerity the greatest
detestation of Iynching. But how can it hope
/ TO make lynching abhOrred in Tennessee-labors
I in that direction being apparently needed, for
negro was burned at the stake there on Sunday
/ by chiding others who denounce the evident
/ growing savagery of lynchngs and mildly dep
recating them rs but the manifestation OF ont
ra ged feelings and rash vengeance? A crowd
/ Of rOughs desirous OF Iynchng or even a body
/ of respectable men under temptation TO lynch,
would find such sentiments on the subject, com
ing irons a recognized upholder of law rather
justification Of violence than dissuasiOn from
it. The disposition 10 apologize for mob vio-
lence and resent outside criticism Of it has been
I one OF the chief causes for the growth Of the
evil If years ago the Southern press had more
generally denounced lawlessness instead of tell
ing their people that those who denounced it
were enemies Of the South. lynching would