The gold leaf., 1903-07-02

Within the last few days one phase
Of the negro problem-the most hid
eous and dreadful phase-has been
brought to the attention of our
Northern friends in Il vivid manner.
On June > the daughter of Penn
sylvania minister, who had recently
moved with his family to the vicinity
OF Wilmington, Del, was waylaid by
a black brute, assaulted and muir
dered This foul deed was committed
almost in sight of the church spires
OF Wilmington, almost within calling.
distance Of the police OF the principal
Delaware city. Neither the elevatino
influences OF religion nor the fear of
the law were sufficient to deter this
monster from committing the helm
Ous crime OF which the worst types
OF his race are so frequently guilty.
Last Monday night, one week after
the arrest OF the man charged with
this Infamous deed, Il mob, estimated
at 1000 men, battered down the
doors Of the prison to which he had
been taken, seized the alleged crimi-
nal, carried him to the spot where
the crime had been committed, tied
him to y stake, poured oil over him
and burned him to death.
1t is dcplorable that such IL crime
as WAS fastened upon this man, who
i'll his last moments confessed his
guilt, should be possible in a civil
ized country. 1t is also deplorable
that punishment should be meted
out to him by mob instead of the
orderly processes OF law. That the
people OF Wilmington were moved to
almost uncomfortable anger by the
horrible fate of an innocent and
helpless girl; that they should have
demanded prompt punishment for
the monster who took her life after
subjectin@ her to the worst horror
Imaginable, can readily be under
stood. 1t is regrettable, however,
Infamous as his crime was, that
they took the law in their own hands
and did not wait for the properly
guilty man pay the penalty OF his
hcinous misdeed The action of the
iniuriated Delawareans emphasizes
the necessity for speedy trials by the
courts and quick execution of sell
fences in such cases. This method of
dealing with IL crime which is of
startlingly frequent occurrence in
some parts of the South has been
adopted in Virginia with good re-
suits. There is sound reason for the
belief that Il similar method must
eventually be adopted in Northern
States, in which the negro pOpula-
ton is increasing, as much for the
prevention OF outbreaks of popular
wrath and the usurpatiOn by Judge
Lynch OF the power and functions of
the courts as to deter the criminal
element among the blacks from as
saults on helpless women. In Della
| ware. according to those familiar
| with conditions in that State, the
criminal and most Objectionable
| type of the negro population is
! steadily growing i'll numbers and OF
| fensiveness Such an element, unless
| held under stern control, is Il menace
to amy State, especially when it eX-
erciscs political power and is fat
tered and caioled by unscrupulous
politicians, who attach more i'm
portance to the votes of this class
than to the safety OF the community
which is endangered by it's presence
The people of Delaware, for Their
own protection, should demand a
rigid and speedy enforcement of the
law against all criminals, especially
| those monsters whose crimes against
defenceless women, unless quickly
punished, lead to mob law and con
tempt OF courts of justice. AnC
when the Delawareans resort tC
lynch law they should accept the Ell
tire responsibility for their irregular
methods, and not seek to fasten the
Odium on mythical men from the
South and West.