The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-09-30
coMrNo ROME TO THEM.

COMING HOME TO THEM.
 Readers of The Advertiser remember that there was a iynching in the State of Oregon a few days ago. The victim was a negro who had committed 'the usual crine." and he was promptly lynch- ed in the usual style. We are not in- formed whether the mob was. as usual composed of "the best citixens," but think 1t very likely that 1t was. as that is one of the phrases always employed In de- scribing lynchings.
 This lynching has put our esteemed contemporary. The Portland oregonian, in hole That paper is usually one of the fairest and most conservative North ern Republican journals within our knowledge. Its fairness, however. does not prevent 1t from critieislng with some- times undue severity the lynching of me- groes in the South for the same crime. This affair, though. so near it's own home, sets 1t back a few degrees. It of course condemns the lynching. and con- tends that there was no excuse for it, and then indulges in these reflections:
 Honesty impels, however, the cogni- zance of extenuating circumstances. This outbreak was conducted, if there are de- that contrast favorably with similar af- fairs elsewhere. There was no display of infuriated attacks upon other negroes, no disgraceful melee and scramble at the conclusion of the scene. The crime was one of those unspeakable vile offenses for which no legal punishment seems ade- quate. and the execution of the lawless verdict was done with grim and quiet determination which reduces the disor- derly influences of the outbreak to a minimum and carries with uneuuivocal meaning its message of swift vengeance to others who may be called on to face a like temptation.
 It will be noted that The Oregonian claims credit for the high-toned and gen. tlemanly manner in which the lynchers conducted their function. The crime s'was one of those unspeakabiy vile off, fences for which no legal punishment seems adequate" our contemporary re- marks. which, by the way. is a plea that is not considered a justification on the part of Southern men for lynching bee. but let that pass. The execution of the criminal was conducted with quiet and decorum," we are told. Let all things be done decently and in order" says Paul. and these Coos County people went at their wock just as though they were opening a Sunday School. They knew they were taking the law in their own hands, and were committing a crime against the laws of Oregon, but as the affair was conducted with quiet and de- corum" the lynchers doubtless satisfy their consciences with the reflection that they, at least, did the job in more creditable manner than do those South ern barbarians who make a picnic of such an occasion.
 But The oregonian could not let pass the opportunity to throw one brick at the South, in these words: -
 We would not do injustice to-any one in so serious a matter, but it seems to us that this lynching, as well as others in Nortbern States, may be in some meas ure Indirectly attributed to the increase of Southern lynchings and to the consid- erable body of public opinion that has been enlisted in their defense. Lawless- ness can breed only lawlessness. Lynch ing is more certain to breed crime than order.
 In plain words we are to understand that this crime, this orderly and decorous lynching. committed away out on the kind of telepathic or other communica- ton with the wicked Southerners to whom lynching ''niggers'' is pastime to be indulged in when other means of amusement run short. The reasoning is more credieable to The 0regonian's ar- gumentative powers than to its fairness and we must be pardoned for quoting from one of It's State contemporaries, The Dayton Dispatch. Referring to this Coos County affair it says. We are as much opposed to the burn ing or lynching of regroes in America as in the islands and we think that eith- CT is wholly wrong. But when we under stand the sacred love that most Southern men have for their homes aad families and then picture one of the } men conn ing into his home and finding his wife, sister or daughter outragt.. lying in pool of her own blood, and hen picture the guilty party, white Or black cap tured and identified beyona 6 doubes you Cssti lUc HfoEC WhtAAHly SACs ShS BSV- pie who lynch such brutes. We are per suaded that when the people. of Oregon have the same provocation that the Southern people often have, they will not wait till such cases arc sisheF wprn out in court or the guilty party has escaped the clutches of the law. They may be more deliberate, but they can be Eoused to action.
 This Is really a reply 10 taa assumed charge of The Oregonian. that the peo- pie up there lynch negroes because the Southern people do. And. while we con- tend that no good citizen will defend lynching, yet we have the virtual admis- sion of an Oregon paper that Iynching a negro for outraging a white woman is a natural if not commendable proceeding. All that is necessary up there is that the Ivnchers shall be deliberate and decorous.