The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-08-24
The Burning of Negroes ut StatesbOrO

The Burning Of Negroes ut SfatesbOrO
The recent action of the moi at Statesbore
in Georgia, has justly received widespread
condemnation.
The facts are that a family OF white persons
had been murdered in the night time, anc
their bodies were burned in the destruction
OF their home. Two negroes were promptly
convicted in the court and sentenced 10 hans
in three weeks.
The excitement had been great, and milit's
had been sent TO protect the negroes from
lynchipg. The militia. which deserves the
condemnation of the world, allowed the mot
to take from them the prisoners after they
had been convicted by the court. The mill
tia certainly made no adequate, If any effor,
at all, to protect the prisoners or to rescue
them from the murderous mob.
The soldiers who were detailed to protect
the prisoners and who surrendered them de
serve to be court martialed.
The leader and others OF the murderous
mob deserve to be brought into court TO an
swe for their crime.
1t was coldb looded and inexcusable muir
der.
There is no use of the newspapers appealing
to a mob Ct men who rely upon their number
for exemption from accountability for theil
act. Conscious Of their unlawful act a mot
must necessarily be timid in the face Of The
regularly constituted authority of the gov
inner to which they owe allegiance. A
mob is not only a coward, but the sense
ofjustice being absent, it is cruel. A coward
is always cruel TO those in his power. Mercy
q 4, ~auar fN,,nl for thn nnoH QVnant in fhf
hearts OF the courageous, who dare to do The
right. even when the inclination is for The
qualification Of feeling or the exercise of re
venge.
The overpowered individual has nj
rights which the mob may respect. And
the mob never attacks the strong and tbs
powerful. The assassin, who strikes in Sc
cret from ambush may strike a blow when be
thinks his identity may not be discovered
But the mob strikes the weak.
It is the Governor, the sheriff, the militia,
and the courts that should protect our homes
from assault and make US secure against
the mob, which attacks our castles in the
darkness or murders the weak and defense
less.
No man is safe as long as the rights o.
the weakest and the humblest may be disre-
garded and trampled under foot.
II the Governor or other State officers would
bring into court every member Of the mol
at Statesboro a wholesome lesson would be
taught and we would hear no more Of MODS
at Statesboro.
If the courts were as prompt to convict
the members of the mob as they were to
con vict the negroes. the country would mol
again be shocked by so inexcusable and Sc
horrible a crime as that of the recent lynch.
ing.
AS well sing Psalms to q dead horse as tc
preach to the mob. The real blame rests
with an efficient execution, or lack enforce
ment. Of the law. The mob as a rule has very
little character and very little money. They
are hard TO reach, except under the criminal
law.
But the State officers are more pre-.
tentious and are more directly accountable
TO the people than are the members Of the
mob. The mob should account to the officers
and the officers should recognize their duty
to the people, whose Offices they hold. 1t is
the militia the Governor and other officer
that nave brought disgrace to Georgia. Ii
the persons who composed the Statesboro
mob had had reason to believe in the eff
cheney of the militia and the fidelity of the
civil authorities that mob would not have
been organized. But having neither 81
proper conception Of the duties OF the coed
citizen nor respect for the county Officers
they committed their crime in contempt
OF the officers whom they believed had not
the courage TO bring them to justice.