The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1903-09-21

EdltOr CONSTITUTION. tolIlCe iiy dTtlCle
criticising lynching was published
have received a great number of letters
from men in every walk in life. and from
men of both races, approving what
said against this horrible mania. | give
extracts from a few of them which will
| show how true to that which is right
are the heads and hearts of the wisest
and best among us; believing. as / do.
that hereby righteousness NAV be en-
couraged and hope may be cheered in
| the hearts of both tho white and black
people of the country. My own faith
has been greatly confirmed by these let
| ters, and | trust that others may be
| similarly strengthened by reading eX-
| tracts from them.
Governor Terrell the honored chief
magistrate Of our state, in a letter dated
| September g. says: II wish to extend
| both official and personal thanks for your
NEST excellent article on mob law. have
not read anything in long time that
suits the conditions so we'll.
| General Gordon. the brave soldier and
| best beloved son of Georgia. writes: Let
me add an expression Of obligation for
| YOUR superb article on mcb law 1t mas
/ the true ring | am with you.
| Judge Samuel b. Adams, whose brief
| service on the supreme bench. though
| brilliant could add no honor TO name
! already lustrous with every personal ex-
cellency and professional virtue. speaks
| with characteristic force and frankness
II am glad that you wrote and published
vour communica ton on LynchinG 1t
mlpht 10 do much good Every word
onght to meet the unqualified indorse-
| ment OF every good citizen NO good
man can afford 10 excuse lynching in any
| case"
| Judge w. 4. Coyington, who Is young.
| but uncommonly able, judge hVins at
! Moultric, Ga. writes in way to set
sensible men to thinking IN several i'm
| nortant directions lie says: Your re-
| cent article in The Atlanta constitution
| suits me- in our recent local option
cannaien | had occasion to argue the
! truth of three propositions: %. The
mon is generally drunk (2), The victim,
when guilty. has, in the majority OF
caees been drunk when the crime was
committed. 80. our people. white and
black are the most law-abiding i'll the
world when sober and the storm CEN
tara Of lawlessness, the country over, are
wide OMEN sections as in the case OF
Rreathitt county, kentucky know
| that we are in a state Of vast improve
,nent here. since we have made the
| change"
In connection with these suggestive
wards of Judge Covington, ii is wortn%
Of remark that the saloon problem IS
= far more urgent and diihcnlt problem
man the race problem, and the SCUM
more nearly than any other section mas
put down the saloon With the saloon
banisbed from every part of the republic,
all other questions would be slmpliAed
UNNECESSARILY.
Rev. James w. Lee, DID, that gifted
and devoted Georgian, now resident ia
| St Louis, Mo, writes FROM the Dol
| tom of my heart / thank You and con-
graduate the southern people upon
your deiverance on lynchnS in The At
lanta Constitution, watch has aust reach
ed me today The Lord bless YOU and
| guide you in Your great work l0i l'e
/ church and orr country
How the Best Negroes Feel.
( If ie Important also and highly use
( full. that the white people know now inc
host negroes feel and think about this
matter. Accordingly | give few Elk
tracts from letters written to me from
representatives of that race
AT Paine institute, Augusta. Ga,
school established and endowed by Meth
odists of the south for the training OF
neglo preachers and teachers, Professor
! J. " Gilbert labors as an Instructor. re
I graduated there and went to Brown UNI
/ versity. where he was very successful
winning a scholarship in Greek, which,
! gave hmm a term OF years in Greece for
\ the better studying Of the language and
1 history OF that Interesting people, 1t
/ may he doubted il there are many bet
/ ter Greek scholars in Georgia. lie
writes: Il can not help expressing my
qualification and gratitude for the ar
! 1icle given by you to 1he Constitution
two or three days ago. pray God
/ that the day viii soon come when the
Christian men and women, both white
and black, in the south whatever other
people may do) will set aside the dis
/ tlnbing performers and platformers,' that
come along with the other pests of
dog DAYS confess that they, both
white and black, sometimes give me
nightmares. 1t is so refreshing and en-
/ cnnraeing TO hear q cheerful Christian
voice like yours say that all this talk
about separation Of the races is the
veriest buncombe. l do not wish to leave
| the white people, from whom have re-
ceived my Bible. my training. my iEspra-
| ton and all that makes me civilized,
Christian man The demonstration of
the fact that we can live together is
that we are doing so. and have been do
ing so nearly three hundred years
want all the rapists killed, according to
law and order. and speaking for the class
of negroes ! represent, We stand ready
to project the women of the southern
white people as we could to protect our
own lives, I wish that the southern
white people really knew how the best
class of negroes feel toward them. My
/ heart bleeds when the diabolical deeds
of the slum negroes ignorant vicious
| and bestal. are attributed TO the race
| rather than TO the individuals who COM
| nit them. AS 1 said in Atlanta a few
| days ago knowing dhe southern minis
try as do. / feel that they can be- de-
pended upon to take the right the
Christian position, whenever it comes
10 the question affecting the races.
prophesy the passing away of lynch law
and mob violence whenever the black
pulpit breaches against the crimes that
provoke lynching. and the white pulpit
against the MODS that commit lynchings
l. say this in reference to the whole coun-
try in general, and not with reference
to the south in particular for it is a
question whether more of our friends
| are north or south Of the Mason and
Dixon line"
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