The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1902-06-24
IYHCHrNe MUST BIZ STOPPED.

Governor AyCOck mas Ou6T6u q re-
ward of $4OO each for the arrest and
conviction of members of the mob that
Iynched the two negro boys at Sails
bury a few days ago.. It is estimated
that there were se~venty-fve persons
in the lynching party; the arrest and
conviction of all therefore would call
for the payment of $4,000 from the
State Treasury. The reward is
unique, both in the amount of money
involved and in the nature of the crime
of those whose capture is desired. The
lynching was briefly described In the
news columns of The Progressive
Farmer last week. Further details are
| given In these two paragraphs from
the news columns of last Thursdays
News and Observer:
Governor Aycock has been very
much worried about the matter. The
boys charged with the murder were
under arrest and in jail, with the GER
tainty of 4 speedy trial. and the crime
for which they we're lynched was not
the crime for which lynching is ordi-
narily the penalty in the South, and
sometimes in other parts of the coun-
try. How far lncyhing will go and for
what crimes it will be practised can
not be determined. 1t is a form of
lawlessness which grows and nothing
can stop it but an enlightened public
sentiment. The Governor appeals to
all thoughtful and law-abiding people
in the State to uphold his hands in
s~uppressing it.
"a, gentleman from Salisbury yester-
day said that there was very grave
doubt as to the guilt of the younger of
the two negroes recently lynched at
Salisbury. He says that the parents
of the two boys affirmed all the time
that the younger boy was at home at
the moment of the commission of the
crime, while they readily agreed that
the elder one was from home. He
states that the younger boy died pro-
testing his innocence. The gentleman
making this statement is a man well
known in the State and has held re-
sponsible positions. He says more
over hat there was only one track at
the scene of the murder and this track
corresponded with the track of the
elder, and not of the younger. If these
statements turn out to be rue the
lynching becomes all the more horri-
bIe."
= X X
Everything goes to show that the
action of the mob was entirely indie
fensible, and that Governor Aycock
has acted wisely and courageously in
Offering this reward. And the thought
full and law-abiding people whose CO.
operation he asks should hold up his
hands in his effort to stop mob law in
North Carolina. 1t is high time for
all our people to learn that the punish
ment of criminals by mobs of irrespon-
sible citizens instead of properly con-
stituted legal authorities, is a mark
of savagery and barbarism-a thrust
at the very heart of our civilization.
As we have so often pointed out, the
chief thing that distinguishes civiliza-
ton from savage anarchy is that in
civilized countries each citizen sur
renders to the government the right to
punish criminals and fix penalties;
every man who takes the oath of a
citizen and voter swears to uphold the
majesty of the law-swears allegiance
to our courts of justice. The savage
does not; he Furnishes by the mob or
by private vengeance. And the further
we drift toward mob law, the nearer do
we approach the most distinguishing
mark of barbarian peoples.
K X 4 X n x X
Our judges are men of unsullied
character and of marked ability; our
iuries are composed of fair and intel
ligent men. but the mob may be com
posed of the worst men, in a communi-
ty; men of bad character and low in
telligence; they may even have a pri-
vate grudge against the suspected per
son. At best, in choosing between the
mob and the court we choose between
men of known ability and character on
one side and men of doubtful integrity
and intelligence on the other. This is
one of the most important disadvan-
teUpC of mob low