The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1903-06-26
LYNCH LAW.

ton, Del, Juno %. The negro was
accused of having feloniously as
young white woman seven
teen years old and belonging to
good family. The young woman
died Of the injuries received without |
consciousness,
1t is with no desire to point the
finger Of sco:n at the people Of the
North that this article is written.
The North for decades has been pur-
suing that policy towards the South
ern people. We have had many
lynchings in the South. There have
been many incidents Of mob rule that
were regretted by the Southern peo-
pie and condemned by the news
papers. Pulpit and press, almost
without exception, failed not to
speak and write in the interest Of the
main :enance OF law. EveG while
this was true, the Northern papers
and preachers were holding the
Southern people up as living examples
Of wild and untameable inen. No
longer than three years ago the
writer was in a large city of the
North. A gentleman with whom he
became acquainted, native of Penn
sylvania, said to him one day ::
Haven't you got good many law
less people down your way?" When
told that man could travel almost
anywhere in the South, unarmed
and unattended, yet run little risk Of
being molested, he seemed to doubt
the statement. 1t was plainly to be
seem that he had very bad opinion
of the Southern people in the matter
Of the observance Of law. He finally
acknowledged that his opinions were
based upon the newspaper accounts
Of lynchings throughout the South.
Within the past year or twv there
has been a considerable awakening
on the part Of the North to the true
conditions in operation at the South.
Terrible as it may seem, it is enlight-
eminent that has been purchased at
the price of blood-the blood Of help.
less victims and the blood Of the
brutal offenders. This Wilmington
case is one in point. The brutal
crime which brought down speedy
death upon the head Of the offending
negro at the South, fails not to bring
down upon his head like retributior
at the North. Let it be remembered
that the chivalrous devotion Of tn,
o0~.harn- map-to- .waiuae nf3d-tht
ollnd fury with which he struck q
blow at the brute that sought to lay
unhoiy hands upon the person OF q
woman. 1t is matter for self-con.
graduation that so few lyncbinos
nave occurred in the South recently.
But it is sadly true that for the one
objectionable crime there would still
follow the certain reign of Judge
Lynch. So deeply are racial preiu-
dices, so impossible the social gulf
that separates the whites and the
blacks that it is almost out of the
question to argue that the law must
be allowed to take it's course. Tho
argument is all right. The law should
take its course. The law should he
upheld. But the probabilities are
that it would be altogether the other
way in the face of the one hideous
crime. But there is great progress
towards allowing the law to take it's
course. With swifter melting out of
justice, with strong advocacy of the
supremacy of law, there would be far
less likelihood Of lynching. Be-
sides, the attitude Of the negro him
self has helped the South to safer
rule than that of Judge Lynch. The
sensible negroes are no longer seek
ing social recognition. They are ad
Vocating the principles that make for
the industry and thrift of the negro.
They are turning away from politics
and social equality ideas and begin
ming to build a foundation that is
lasting. A manhood built upon hon
est labor, a self-respect that is born
Of good character and n securitv |
the result Of good name-these are
,he things that must come into the
'uture well-being of the negro. And,
t is hopeful sign that already there
s being made some progress alonp