The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-01-19
THE GOVERNOR UPON LYNcHiNG.


 The governors attitude upon lynching, as described by him in his message to the legislature, will attract attention throughout the country. It is unequivo- cal It admits no excuse for this form of violation of the law and breathes the determination to prevent lynching with all the resources at command It may be said that the public sentiment of some communities defends or uphods lynching and it does appear that juries of the To- calities where lynching Is done have shown generally an indisposition to infiict punishment upon the lynchers. What is needed Is more extended and thorough education on the subject of the injury community does itself by encouragement of any kind of law-breaking Security of person and property Is the foundation of progress and prosperity. It is impossible to reach the highest state of physical well being where the laws are not enforced; and if the people wink at the violation of one law claiming that the violation Is expedient, they will wink at the violation of another law should its violation appear expedient, and presently no one can tell what Is or what is not the law or what law Is to be obeyed and what disobeyed.
 The governor, in his recital of the op- erations of the lynchers in this state. shows that already the former prime or necessary cause of resort to lynch law is not required, but that lynchers destroy life without any great provocation. Three lynchings in this state were for crimes other than criminal assault and two for no offense at all, says the governor. Now, if we can justifably kill man for noth- ing, then lynching may be justified in such cases; but if not, a crime has been committed against civilization, and the governor has used none. too strong an expression in denouncing it.
 There is a great need of education on this subject-not book learning, but in struction in morals and in the obligations of citizenship. The children of the state should be taught not only that lynchng is wrong, but why 1t is wrong; not only that it is wrong to the person lynched, who should be given legal trial. but wrong to the body polite, that is, to the state. and every citizen of the state, in that 1t affects injuriously the general ad- ministration of the laws and the security of person and property in the state Let the fact be hammered into the young in- telligence that we cannot advance in civ ilzation without paying the highest and most constant respect for the law: that law is king in free country and alone of all earthly powers deserves our allegi- ance; that disrespect for and violation of law Is treason not to the law only but to ourselves. as it demonstrates lack of confidence in our institutions, unwill- ingness to support our officers of the law and disregard of those safeguards that we as freemen have wisely thrown around ourselves.
 The governor leads the way and points to the lesson to be studied. We wish that it could be followed by systematic appli- cation and such study as would make possible at an early day to have juries that will not hesitate to punish those who disregard the law. When public sentiment everywhere demands that it be done. juries will condemn; and when juries begin to condemn we will see the last of lynching