The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-09-26
from the suspicion of persecution {
the part of anybody.
Opportunity for Police Graft.

from the suspicion of persecution on
the part of anybody.
Opportunity for Police Graft.
Third, the private prosecution of
crime affords the opportunity for po-
lice graft. The fixed policy of the le-
gal authorities to enforce all law
faithfully without regard to person
puts everybody on the same plane be-
fore the law.
The tacit understanding among po-
lice officers that some violations are
to be winked at furnishes the police
mans badge with power to secret
ly purchase favors and opens the door
to graft. l have no data on which to
make a local charge of its utilization
here, but in other cities it has been
employed to the immense disgrace of
civilized government
The Lynching EVIL.
THE fourth evil of the private pros
ecution of crimes is illustrated in the
lynch habit of our day. In the States
boro case those who sympathize with
the mob fix their attention on the per-
sons involved. They excuse the mill
tary from protecting negro brutes.
They lose sight of the beneficent pur-
poses of punishment in the conception
of seeking vengeance on the offender
There is where the mis-education hurts
anu LuG lllISulIECllDIl VI THOUGHT HIS
led &-
The military were not sent there pri-
marily to defend two negro f1ends+
The protection of Cato and Reed was
the incident Vindication of law, pre-
servation of order, maintenance of
civilization, conservation of the good
name of the state, was the fundamental
duty involved. The outcome was sad,
because mighty purposes were defeated.
Iaf ~ l.,
ness in the state is the offspring of this
principle The killing of the negroes
can hardly be dignified as mob action.
A few smart Alecs take the case in
their own hands and commit a brutal
murder. That is the proper statement
of the affair. 1t is the legitimate
descendent of the theory of private
prosecution. Let us trace it,
Wait for private parties to enforce
law is downward step number one.
Next step angry multitudes of private
citizens take the offices of solicitor,
judge, jury, sheriff, executioner, in
their own hands and lynch. Third
downward step. private parties reverse
decisions of magistrates and punish
by cowardly assassination. Horrid,
you say. but the sire of anarchy is
found in the court policies of the
county and city when they refuse TO
execute law through public officers of
detection and prosecution.
Evils of Lynch Law.
The evils of lynch law cannot be
overstated. 1t fails to correct the
crimes at which 1t is aimed. The ex-
perence of centuries and civilization
agree that cruelty in punishment ex
asperates rather than awes. In savage
torture 1t brutalizes the community. 1t
Furnishes the innocent oftener than the
guilty.
1T will not confine itself to the ne
gro, but will spread from race to race.
The Ku Klux days prove that affirma-
tion. 1t will widen its scope and be-
come the tool of prejudice and spleen.
In a word, mob rule foretells a reign
of terror
THE cure of the evil must be a. rad
ical revival of respect for law. No
temporary expedient or partial treat
ment will succeed. Pulpit, press and
citizen must unite in a demand for
the faithful execution of all law. No
exemptions must be allowed as to stat
ute, race, or condition of men. The
whole law must be fully enforced, en-
forced equally, surely, unerringly and
the punishments must be efficient.
Otherwise the whole fabric is in dam
ger of destruction.