The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1904-03-16
LYNcHlNe NOT SECTIONAL.

4
| Lynching, even Of negroes for mur
der, is not sectional as between nortl
and south, says the Call. In the soutl
a majority Of the victims are black
while in the north majority are white
but nortern communities enjoy lynch
| ing a negro as much as any In the
south. The recent mob in Ohio had all
the characteristics of mobs everywhere,
but Is reported TO have been more en-
Enthusiastically cheerful than such
crowds usually are. The good shots at
the victim were cheered, and there was
a picnic air abroad that relieved the
gloom of the proceeding. This differs
from the southern way. Down there q
shadow of solemn duty is cast over
a lynching, and men go to It grimly and
without smile. So, II may be said
that in the north lynching Is an amuse-
ment and in the south ceremony.
1t is said that in the recent Ohio
lynching there was spirit OF admon-
ition to the officers OF the law. While
it is but little satisfaction to the fel-
low who is lynched, to know that he Is
merely used as means OF discipline to
men in Office, perhaps that was the mo-
tive of the mob. 1t is said that many
homicides have occurred inthat country
recently and juries have been lax In
Furnishing the guilty. Under such cir
cumstances 1t would seem more effec-
tive to hang few jurymen. Instead
Of this being done, it is probable that
members of the slack juries were in the
mob. helping 1t to do murder and cheer
ing the good shots.
Every lynching produces crop Of
criticism of the law and the courts. Ifl
the matter is examined 1t will be found
that laxity lies with the juries. They
are drawn from and represent the body
Of the people. They are the represen-
tatiYes Of the community in the adj
OF the law and are the
sole judges Of the facts. They are not
llways carefully selected, but no doubt
Judges and attorneys do as well as they
.an. Yet sometimes relatives of the
'erson on trial get on juries, and in one
ase in this state the man who com
nitted the crime for which another was
m trial was member Of the jury and
ucceeded in having the innocent man
Lcquitted. 1t is plain that il critics
4 the courts will look into cases in
which justice fails they will find juries,
hat is to say, the people themselves,
0 blame.
In the Ohio lynching appeared another
natter for serious reflection. The
heerful mob which murdered the me-
70 was followed by an incendiary mob
hat was not on pleasure bent. 1t fired
ne negro quarter of the town and pre-
anted the fire department from going
} the rescue until the confagrationI
ad done its work. The excuse for this ,
ct was that the negro quarter was
le shelter of idleness, vice and crime. r
That is serious matter. The north 4
n born and raised negro is noted for T
IS industry, thrift and law-abiding :
,irit. Where negro quarters are t
und in towns along the Ohio river !
I'd elsewhere in the north they are +
tilt up by negro immigrants from the
'uth. If they area menace to COM q
unity life there Is raised an issue that /
III not be decided by burning men at q
e stake nor putting the torch TO roofs !,
at shelter women and children. 1t a
an issue that is of interest to the I
rth and south, and problem that D