The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-08-18
PROTECTING THE COUNTRY PE0-
 PILE.

PILE.
 Ever since the horrible murder of the Hodges family in Georgia a short while ago by negroes the newspapers of that State have been discussing the best methods of preventing such and worse crimes which occasionally shock humanity in various sections of the country. One of the suggestions which has met with considerable favor is that there shall be constabulary force in each county something after the style in use in England. The principal objection to this aside from the expense, is that it would be out of the question for any reasonably large force to afford constant protec- ton for all the widely scattered peo- pie in the sparsely settled communi- ties 50 common in the South. In a country like England, for example, when all the people are almost in touch with each other. mounted police continually riding through the coun- try are a great protection, but here they could do little good in the pre- vention of crime. however much benefit they might be in running down crimi- nals.
 On this subject The Savannah Press says:
 The greatest safety. though. un- doubtedly lies in the plan that requires trict to give an account of himself. If he Is a law abiding man, who has not fled from crime committed elsewhere, he will not object to stating where he wa: last employed, or h where he has as three years. If his record is found to be such that he is an undesirable addition to the population. he should be forced to move on. The right of elf-protection. the right of protecting who destroyed the Hodges, the right to defend a community against crimes of all kinds, rises superior to the rights of wandering negroes to locate wheresoever they will.
 Of course the charge will at once be made that 1t is an exhibition of South ern race prejudice to thus seek to pro- tect our people against colored tramps and vagrants. but neither the objec- tion nor the objectors need worry any one Every one who cares to know the truth is compelled to know that country people have more to fear from idle and wandering negroes than from any other class of people. and if the method suggested by The Press will even partially accomplish the desired end 1t will be something gained. Ap- pretending ana punIsnIng crlminais is we'll but if crime could be prevented 1t would be much better. As The Press says. a negro of good character in the South can always find men to vouch for him, and if he Is a danger ous and vicious tramp the best thing is to have him move on. It Is evident that protection for the scattered coun- try people is needed, and the plan that will best succeed is the one to adopt. The fact that two of the negroes connected with the murder of the Hodges family were horribly lynched at Statesboro on Tuesday is another argument for prevention. The crime committed by the negroes was one of the most brutal that has occurred in | a long time, and the vengeance of the lynchers was the very limit of cruelty We do not know that the negroes who murdered the Hodges belonged to the class to which the method advised by our Savannah contemporary applies | but it Is difficult to believe that ordl- narily industrious colored citizens would have been guilty of such a crime. However that may be, this only adds to the necessity for watch fulness on the part of all good citi- | zens in order that the scenes at and | near Statesboro may not be repeated elsewhere. It is right to punish l criminals. but to prevent crime is much better.