The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1903-08-28
NEGRO LYNCHING CONVERYION.
An Address Issued TO the People of
the State by Negroes Assembled In
Columbia.

the State by Negroes Assembled In
Columbia.
The State.
There met in Columbia Tuesday
nearly hundred negro mon whose
purpose is to put themselves on rec
ord as denouuc'ng the crime which
provokes lynchings and to formulate
an appeal to the white people to put
down mob law. These men can
hordly be called representatives of
their race, for they are of an order
of intelligence which is above the
average of the colored people. But
they are the exponents Of that race
and the advocates for their people.
The convention met at noon in the
Bethel A. M. E. Zion church, the
pastor, Rev. b. j. Ramsey, presiding
hev. M. &. johnson, a Presbyterian
preacher of Columbia and the prime
mover in this matter, was elected
chairman, Rev G. It. billiard, vice
chairman and Rev. j. A. Brown, SEQ
retary.
SHOULD BE NO RACE HATRED.
In opening the conventions pro.
ceedings, Lev. M. G.. johnson said
that these foul crimes of which
negroes have been accused are pain
tul TO the hearts of all true colored
citizens who want it understood that
they emphatically denounce thai par
particular class Of crime and most
bitterly condemn the perpetrator.
The object of this meeting is to take
steps for the higher moral elevation
of that class which would commit
snch crlmes and to appeal for the
suppression Of mob violence. not
only because the innocaut -ometimes
suffer its punishment, h7, because
tho habit Of lynch law Will yet find
for lis victims persons guilty of
"r'mos lesH revolving.
1yN~'DNu UNJUsrIr1ABLE.
IS !ynrhing ever justitiable, or
"oes 1t lessen the crime for which it
;" :'ono;" Tint WAS the subiect of
y. address by Rev. Nj. ". Nilboyt, .
5nacLor in Bendict college. He
made the broad statement that law
iessness is not a cure for lawlossness,
1T is the execution Of vengeance and
ls not justice. It is the expression
OF race prejudice. and race prejudice
III the mother of injustice. It is a
remedy to cure negroes of crime
while white people go free.
He declared lynching to be the
outcome of race prejudice, but his
remarks at this point were not cal.
culated to make the convention think
any the more kindly of the white
people.
At the night session the first
speaker was negro lawyer of
Bennettsville, e. j. Sawyer. His
theme was an appeal to the intelli.
gent and humane white citizens of
this country for more faithful en-
forcement Of the law against mob
violence.
There were 81 lynohings in the
south alone last year, and it is
estimated many thousands partici-
p"ted in those crimes. They
are guilty, murderous, riotous, and
yet allowed to 60 free. What will
the harvest beY There is a remedy
and it can be found by the cooper.
alton of the law fearing negroes and
the crime detesting white people.
COMMON SENSE spEEOH
he speech which had more com.
mon Henso in it, and yet was delivered
in scholarly style, was from
the REV. q. II. billiard, a Presbyter
ian missionary. While he spoke
Loyalty and proudly Of his own race,
ther" WAS nothing Of unkindness for
tho ether race in word that he
SAID. Flo first told Of the necessity
OF making the home attractive and
OF 'mprosang upon the minds of the
ch!l'ron lessous of truth and honor.
THE NEGRO PREAcHGH.o
II" ihon touched upon phase of
the Qu"ation which required some