The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-10-07
Fridav Oct. 7, 1904,
IYCHINGs AND THEIR CAUSES.

The Daily Times OF Florence. s. c.
contained in a late issue two edito-
rails on recent lynchings in that state.
so different in sentiment that they are
worthy OF comment In reference TO
.he lynchings in Berkeley county that
paper censures the governor for not
making greater exertions in bringing
the lynchers to trial. By implication
it charges the governor with neglect OF
duty in this case. 1t ays
Governor Hayward says that he de-
plores the spirit OF lawlessness ia the
state. and we doubt not that he does.
that he IS earnestly sincere he ought
to let the press know why no steps
n been taken to arrest the lynchers
in Eutawville.
In the other editorial which We sup
pose refers to the lynching of the
white man in Kershaw county for kill
ing another white man, ii seems to
condone the action of the mob. If not
to actually approve of it AS to this
lynching it says:
We regret as much Is anybody to
sse lawIessness and lynching, but We
are mighty glad to see that people are
disposed to see to 1t that bullying
white men who go about a menace to
the community get their deserts some
time. Maybe the pistol toters who have
such delicate sense of honor that 1t
IS always getting rudely shocked, will
take warning and find some other way
to salve their wounds than by other
peoples life blood
We cannot understand why there
should be such difference in sentiment
regarding these two violations of The
law. In each case men gathered to-
gether and, taking the law into their
own hands. administered it's extreme
penalty on a citizen. If h governor
is subject to censure for lack Of ac-
tivity in bringing to justice the men in
the n case, why should there be con-
donation Of the action of another
mob for q similar offense?
The Evening Post of Charleston
publishes an editorial on the Kershaw
l%ynching, and on lynching in general,
which is worthy of serious c~onsidera-
ton. After saying that from lynching
negroes for criminal assault We have
gone to lynching white men for muir
der, it k When a people breaks
away from the moorings of the law
who can say where it will cast
anchoro" 1t says it is argured that
the lameness of the law in Furnishing
murderers emboldened the mobs
victim to kill and ~exasperated the moi
to avenge the murder. 1t asks is this
true. 1t wants to know who is respon-
sible for this lameness of the law. II
argues that it is not the courts nor the
laws upon the statute books. The
courts do their duty and h laws are
sufficient. Who. then. are to blame
and why do not the courts convict
men of murder except in rare cases:
The editorial nswer these questions
thus:
Because the juries will not return
the veridcts and that may be because
they are dull to the Sanctity OF human
life. 1t is not the law that is at fault
but public opinion, the only force
which can accomplish full admins
tration of the law. How car there be
a revolt of public opinion against it
self?
Take this Kershaw case. The mar
had killed three men. white or col
ored, and thrice a been acquitted
Who acquitted him? Very likely some
OF those men who took him put and
hanged him without process OF law
Yet they are to claim in e~xtenuatior
of their act hat leniency of the court!
makes such summary proceeding:
right They feared that their neigh
bors would not convict the man il
open court, upon q fair trial of hi.
case: nay. they feared that they them
selves-for any of them might hav,
been drawn upon his jury-would no
administer justice. Not that they
would doubt his guilt, but hat the,
would not wish the responsibility o
open condemnation of him. Therefor,
they slew him in secret and shamet
or 49,