New-York tribune., 1904-09-27
LYNCHINGs as POLITICAL FACTORS.
A Subject the South Is Anxiously Con-
sidering.

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
sir. Two of the heaIthicst evidences of the growth
OF law and order sentiment in the South are the at
tempt ~ the authorities oc Georgia Mississippi and
Alabama to bring Iynchers and cowaTdly militia 10
Justice and the usstence Of the Southern press for
political reasons. that lynchings must stop ih7
South is nothing II il Is not political and 'he e'-
fort now OF politicians IS 20 prevent lyuchiHgs at
lea az present on OF the fearful influence
they are exertlng on this Presidential campaign
The best testimony 10 the fear OF political conS"-
queuces following the continued lynchlnss IA 'ne
South F the following strong arraisnIn"nt OF me
lynchers by one OF the most prominent hs"Spape'S
OF the South The Atlanta Constitution, whlch
,,tters Irs warnings September ~ the subject
under the head Of Georgia Mobs Very Helpful To
Roosevelt" follows:
There IS an air Of gloom hanging over me the s inner
circles AZ Democratic headauaTlfts ana ne ~ Tees og
the report that the Governor or Georgia liL
Tent Of H. militia that failed DO hs duty at
Statesboro comes the report OF mo, , NJ tirtrr
killing which the State courts had fun power TO
handle Whatever defence there may De Tor tyncH-
ing FOR other crimes. II seems from & tlF ~
shed here there could be none FOR this lal"r 'aNe'
tbat might tst as well fola up their tents and close
headquarters SO this campaign Is conctrIru ii
II sroT,s5 IfeFe from 55 TO the De southern states
~ h fnrnnce1vabIe 10 them that the Southern
uaople do not realize the real damage such aHalTs
DO 10 the Democratic cause. Here are lle D. D.l'u
cratic managers seeking to impress the Goun1fy ,y
that the Democratic party is great Ia" and ordtr
a great constitutional party. ana pointing 70 me sat
Southern States-to Illustrate ther contgno me me-
the of Democracy IN thaI seceiom sar,a et ,
tive, and yet almost every l'1y Sa SneS Is" ~ rnob
some such Illustration OF idwIessieSs i4t '.oo -.
violence the South as that turnlsheu Py oatrts
boro and Cedartown and Boynton and other points
~ There can be no doubt that these mob outbreaks
In the Southern states hove the effect or nulfylns
al 9s eHor5d a1d each has east decidedly gloomy
eTect bout Democratic headquarters. II there had
overcome ts effects; but the frequency OF theSe
outbreaks and the fact OF their coming ras", ,i ~
the midst or the campaign has had most us
sI6ocraf ahe Speaker Wh6 comes to the doubtful
states talk for Parker and the Constitution shall
he met by embarrassing questions concerning tnls
iynching business II this plan be carried out me me
opinion here is ihat as h DemocTto
campaign, might just as well stay at home =,
Wkether the Republicans will be successful in
this feature OF their campaign plans or not the
Democratic managers do not attempt to c93cTal lcT
their fears that the spreading OF lynchins hteTa-
ture will do infinite harm.
They feel t0d9y a5 n i 5hgy mg s and 90 to
their respective homes II these lynchinss are con-
tinued al the south
This shows just fear as well a healthy grow
ing sentiment. Yet strong dscordant notes are
noticed in the growing Unison OF Southern sent-
rrent on Ivnchings, namely tho utterances of two
Southern Senator's whilom bellgerent Senators.
who like plate and Herod the truth in Jesus.
SILENCE the voice of their enmity crush the
righteousness Of law. l refer 10 Senator McI-au-
rms justification Of lynching on Wednesday last
In ATiSsisSippi, IN derence OF W. X Eastman, VINO
assi@ted in burning al the stake Luther Hollsert
and his wife for the murder of white man. and
SnTator 'TfilInan who in a letter concerning the
burning Of negroes at Statesboro, Ga, says: "Mobs
are bad. but they are evidence or the spirit OF no
Sesro Equality IS something that will not be toll
a-a1ed and IL il comes 10 war the negro will be
eTtern1inated" AS a seeming echo of his letter
comes the horrible killing on Wednesday, last near
Traihot+on Ca. of two negroes who had actually
been declared innocent by the court OF the charge
- eorsniring o murder whites. The press.
o,Ict the bench. the bar and all good citizens of
W. south ought to ceprObate such sentiments as
~ y,II oF the essence of anarchy but as a bid for
FnrtSer disorder. TO the shame and danger Of the
T1ea noIitical danger the ynchers are bringing
On their party in this Presidential Campaign Is a
0auy force 10 suppress lynchings and ought 70 be
nse5 by the press OF both North and South 20
stanp out the lynching madness.
' DEAN RICHMOND BABBITT.
BROOKLYN Sept. g. 1904