The San Francisco call., 1904-03-22
THE SOUTH AGAINST LYNcHING.


~ HE whole country hears with pleasure the protest
against 1ynching made by the Confederate vete-
rams of Mississippi 1t is powerful utterance in
of and humanity and while 1T Will be ntiuen-
tial in the South it call to the North for
operation an effort relieve national reputation
stain that persistent awlessness has put upon it.
The way for this action prepared by the Governor
of Mississippi who personally interered to the life
of negro from a mob that was bent on lynchlng him.
Governor Vardaman has been the object of much un-
favorable criticism on of his position upon the
school question and his advocacy of taxation policy
that will cripple schools for the negroes. But this IS
condoned by his courageous stand for the law lie has
done good by the example he has set for blacks and
whites in his State follow in support of the law than
his radical views on education do harm. He has
rendered the whole country distinct and valuable
vice. for which the North will give him full credit
We do hesitate say that the North needed his
example more than the South for we have been the
critics of the South in respect lynching while at the
same time we have tolerated mob murders. in States
where the passions which those crimes have far
less excuse in the South What possible is
there States like Ohio Indiana, Illinois, Kansas and
California for mob law and lynching? All of those
States boast of the intelligence of their people and the
independence of their courts In of ynchng
in them the law would have dealt adequate punishment
to the persons who were executed cruelty and unlaw
fully.
There is absolutely for lynching Grant that
there delays and that sometimes criminal escapes
through the folly of jury that better than to
inure the good of State and tarnish national
reputation by ynching. The good effect of
this Mississippi will be felt in the South,
where the negroes simple ignorant and initiative when
they white disobey the law, themselves in
cited to violate 1t in their personal conduct.
Lynch law anarchy in its dangerous form. 1t
is proved that is restraint upon criminals They
fear only the and orderly processes of the law and
when is administered promptly and fearessy they
learn that escape from its punishment mpSsi-
BILE But lynch law they may evade, and its conspicuous
element is that the rage that it expresses is often
turned against the innocent the guilty What possible
there for instance in the conduct of the
Ohio mob which, after lynchng a negro, put the
torch all buildings occupied by negroes, endangerng
the lives of innocent and children and threaten
ing the whole with general confagraton?
We have many national societies and organizations
that deal with of and morals habits and
conduct The Mississippi Confederates may we'll invite
their old comrades in throughout the South and
their old and gallant foemen the G. A R. throughout
the North to join them in national movement against
lawlessness and lynchng. Such national society,
formed originally by the of both armies would
be service to the whole country that which
these soldiers their youth sought render their
spective sections by enisng to fight for idea If
such movement become general ynchers will es-
cape punishment easily heretofore. And when a
few leaders in lawlessness orh and South are
suffering punishment by the law which they have vio-
lated mobs will be less and respect for the law
will be greater.
Every white and black, in this country needs
protection of the law and when this fails he has safe.
guard for any of his rights The only way which
be of legal protection by considering it
his duty that every other has the The
who lets his passions lead him into joining mob
to murder criminal by ynching has simply endangered
himself by weakening the legal safeguards which he
looks for his defense.
Governor Vardaman could do good missionary work,
South and North by inviting the Governors of all the
States to meet in convention to consider ways and
by which make good the oath they have taken tsee
that the laws faithfully executed This is one way
and good way, bring about a permanently better
understanding between the North and South 1t is sub
ect of national Importance. When the whole country
has passed year without ynching the patriotic pride
of people will be restored, the other
nations of the world in the face without bushng for our
lawlessness and nhumanity
-
The people of San Francisco have the exhibit that
will represent public school children St Louis
Exposition The display is exceptionally commenda-