The Elk Mountain pilot., 1901-08-20
A VOICE FROM THE DARKNESS.

We have intimated that in his Wis
consin speech Senator Tillman only
spoke for the minority of intelligent
white men IN the South, and that even
that minority had subordinated its in
| telligence 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, 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. 1t made a false
step when it adopted the grandfather
clause" but it did something to atone
for it when it incorporated another
clause giving the governor power to
remove a sheriff who failed to do his
duty In defending a prisoner against
mob violence. This, of course, points
directly to the reduction of lynch law
in the state, and the credit of its adop-
ton belongs largely to Ex-Governor
Thomas G. Jones of Montgomery,
who, prior to the gathering of the CON
yention, and during its deliberations,
has given much earnest and valuable
counsel to the people of his state. Per-
haps, should this amendment be con-
hrmed, there are some governors who
would not use the power thus given
them, but there are others who would,
one of whom, we believe, is Governor
zones.
In an elaborate argument in favor
of the amendment, Governor Jones
made the startling but doubtless true
statement that lin the last ten years
over one hundred citizens of Alabama
have been taken by mobs from sher-
IFS and jails and murdered" This
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 We're not even suspected of
the crime which is always instanced as
a Justification of such extreme meas
ures. These mob executions" said
he, 'are 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 not so? We are under
mining all noble ideals of duty and
manhood"
His 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 unselfishly 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 to de
serve IL. SucH CHECK upon MOD NlO-
lence would place Alabama i'll this i'm
portant respect in advance of all 9TH
er southern states. 1t would give con-
fidence and encouragement to capital.
1t would be an earnest of n better civ
ilization. 1t would safeguard the laws |
sanctity and help to set up higher
standards of justice. 1t would be
practical antidote TO such social poison
as Tillman and Bonaparte have been
Observation-Disclosures Transcript.