West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1903-02-05
THE RAcE.pRoBLEM.
A Correspondent Calls Down The
Journal aud Messenger on the
subject.

icN years ako, Wucn = negro was
hnched-shot. hung. or burned-it was
assumed that IL was because be had been
guilty OF "a nameless oHense" against
woman. IL was said: This thing Is certain.
the people OF the south are not going to
tolerate violation OF their women" But
OF late the old excuse for lynching is
hardly sought Only few Of that kind
have been offered during the past two or
three years. The negroes seem to have
suddenly stopped doing the bad thing TO
which alone they were formerly addicted.
But the lnychings do not cease. therefore
the hightoned young men who were for
merly set for the defense OF white women
no longer need the old excuse Tor a lynch
Ing bee. They want a good time. and they
get IL. as one OF their own papers says;
They once lynched almost exclusively
for one crime. now they lynch for murder.
arson. theft and other oaenses" The
other day in South Carolina. they lynehed
a husband and wife for the same oaense
shooting man who had abused them;
and only one shot was fred. After the
citizens had murdered both the accused.
they began to wonder which OF them had
committed the offense Long ago we pro.
phesied that lynchings would not always
wait for the zone crime" but would be
found an agreeable exercise on many occa.
sions. fox hunt or a bear batting is
greatly enjoyed by persons OF certain
caliber and spirit. II is fair to say that
our Baptist exchanges of the South do not
approve the lynching but then II is almost
amusing 90 notice how tendery they speak
OF the offeuses and of those who commit
it-Journal and Messenger
TT
For a paper like the Journal aud Mess
enger. whoes motto is; what Thou Seest
Write aud Send Unto the Churches" to
print and send unto the churches" such
editorials as the above. il is very evident
that its editors have but one eye and that
In looking southword. Did il ever occur
to the publishers OF the Journal and Mess.
enger that we have had "lynehing" OF
negroes in the north aud in the west
| Just turn your good-eye northward, II you
please, and see II you can't see or hear OF
something similar TO send unto the
churches"
II is true, perhaps. that they occur more
frequently in parts OF the south where the
the same conditions they would occur Just
as frequent In the east. west or north
While our northern friends hold up their
hands in holy horror at the "l,nchlng bee
Of the south. they have no more love for
the negro aud indeed not as much as their
| friends OF the south This state OF affairs
will exist in the south so long as the
politicians Of the country hold the rcins
Of government. The appointment Of
negroes TO Office over the white men OF
the south often leads TO these unpleasant
things, but in most every single case they
are justfabe. Did you ever hear Of a
negro being appointed TO Office In the north
] y, no. they wouldn't submit to that but In
the south, OF course IL don't make any
difference. The appointment OF negroes
to office in the south by the party In power
is done for political purpose--to hold the
negro vote. The above state of affairs
will cease to exist in the south. to a great
extent. when we have Chief Executive
aud Congress who have the interests of
all the people at heart and are not look
ing forward TO their own reelection TO
office-giye us men, not politicians aud the
south will blossom as the rose.
When negro is lynched in the east
west or north-hung. shot or burned at the
stake. very little. II anything Is said about
it-of course IL was justi6able. But let
the south lynch colored man. great scottl
what howl IL raises. Another thing that
leads TO mob violence is the long delay in
melting out justice to criminals. They are
sometimes tried, found guilty and senten
ced either 70 hang or imprisonment II they
are 10 hang they are sent TO the state
prison in their state. where they are to be
executed in the prison yard. After they
have been removed from the county in
which the crime was committed. an effort
Is made on the part Of the counsel for the
accused. through the Supreme eourt.to have
the decision Of the lower court set aside
and new trial granted. Failing in this
the governor is appealed to. to commute
the sentence. The governar refuses 20
interfere. Then the Board Of Pardops
take the case and as a general thing the
sentence is commuted TO imprisonment
| Thus il often occurs that the cold blooded
murderer after beng sentenced TO death
which he richly deserves. gets on with a
life sentence. and then Is sometimes par.
doned for good condsct while In prison.
Is Il any wonder then. that mob violence
Is sometimes resoried TO. not only IN the
south but all over this fair county OF oursY
Fair and impartial trials by jury and a
speedy execution Of the Jaw. without so
much red tape proceedings will lessen
rnobs and crime in this country.
What Thou Secst Write" but do not
conhne your remarks 10 Southern climes.
II President Roosevelt wishes 10 elevate
and encourage the ooiored race. why not
apoint few colored postnasters or post.
misstfesses in the north as wenS