New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-08-10

zen for the admirable way in which you have
vindicated the majesty of the law by your re-
cent action in reference to lynching. I feel my
dear sir, that you have made all men your
debtors who believe. as all farseeing men must
that the wellbeing-indeed. the very existence
of the republic depends upon that spirit of
derly liberty under the law which is as incom-
patible with mob violence as with any form of
despotism
OF course, mob violence Is simply
form of anarchy; and anarchy is now, $ 1T
always has been, the handmaiden and fore
runner of tyranny.
feel that you have not only reflected honor
upon the State which for its good fortune has
you it's Chief Executive. but upon the whole
nation 1t is incumbent upon every man
throughout this country not on.s 20 hold up
your hands in the course you have been follow
ing. but to show his realization that the matter
is one of vital concern to US all.
All thoughtful men must feel the gravest
try, and especially over the peculiarly hideous
form so often taken by mob violence when coll
oEed men the victims. which occasions
the mob seems to lay most weight. not the
crime. but on the color Of the criminal. In
certain proportion of these cases the man lynched
has been guilty of a crime horrible beyond de-
scription-a crime so horrible that as far as he
himself is concerned he has forfeited the right
to any kind of sympathy whatsoever.
The feeling of all good citizens that such "A
hideous crime shall not be htdeousIy pun
ished by mob violence Is due not I'm the
least to sympathy for the criminal, but to "a
very lively sense of the train of dreadful
by the mob In exacting Inhuman vengeance
for an inhuman wrong.
GOOD ADVICE FOR THE NEGROES.
In such cases. moreover. 1t is well TO remember
that the criminal not merely sins against hu-
manity in inexpiable and objectionable fashion.
but sins particularly against his own race. and
does them a wrong far greater than any white
man can possibly do them.
Therefore, I'm such eases the cOIored peo-
pie throughout the land should in every
IOssib1e way show their belief that they.
more than all others in the community, are
hOrrified nt the commission of such n crime.
and peculiarly concerned In taking
every possible measure to prevent fits recur-
renee and to bring the criminal to immedi-
Justice.
The slightest lack of vigor either in denuucia-
ton of the crime or in bringing the criminal to
justice is itself objectionable
VENGEANCE BY LAWFUL METHODS.
Moreover. every effort should be made under
the law to expedite the proceedings of justice in
the case of such an awful crime. But 1t can
not be necessary. in order to accomplish this, to
deprive any citizen of those fundamental rights
to be heard in his own defence which are so
dear to US all and which lie at the root OF our
liberty.
IL certainly ought to be possible by the
proper administration of the laws to secure
swift vengeance upon the criminal; and the
best and immediate efforts of all Legislators,
Judges and citizens should be addressed to
securing such reforms in legal pro-
cedure to leave vestige of excuse for
those misguided men who undertake TO
vvreak vengeance through violent methods.
Men VINO nave oeeh sulIIy OF a crime IKE rape
or murder should be visited with swift and GER
tain punishment. and the just effort made by
the courts to protect them in their rights should
under circumstances be perverted into per-
rnitting any mere technicality TO avert or delay
their punishment. The substantial rights OF the
prisoner TO a fair trial must. OF course be guar
anteed. as you have so justly insisted that they
should be: but. subject to this guarantee. the
law must work swiftly and surely. and all the
agents Of the law should realize the wrong they
do when they permit justice 70 be delayed or
thwarted for technical or insufficient reasons