Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1904-12-16
A COMMUNICATION.
EDITOR OF THE VIRGINIA CITIZEN;

A CUMMUNiCATlUN.
EDITOR OF THE VIRGINIA CITIZEN:
My Deor Sir:-The VIRaIHIA CITIZEN
OF December end is before me. Among
the many excellent things contained
therein notice one article which, In my
judgment merits reproof and correction.
| l refer to your animadversions upon
Gov. Montague, because of his address
before the Baptist General Association
of Virginia in advocacy of Law aud
Order. His Exce,lency is abundantly
able to take care Of himself, and needs
no defence at my hands. But in your
editorial utterances on this subject you
are. believe, unintentionally lending
yoar influence to give currency to a
Misrepresentation as to Gov Montague,
and TO that extent assa.ling him unjustly
l heard every word Of the speech about
which the political enemies of Gov.
Montague have made 10 much ado. The
impression has been made that Gov.
Montague said that: 1--WE of the South
| used to lynch for one crime; now we
lynch for ten or fifteen" Whereas he
said distinctly that there were more homi-
cides in the United States than any other
| country save Russia, and the ave" In
the sentence above referred TO meant the
people of the United States, North, East,
West as well as South. How these state
ments of the Governor can be as you say,
"rolled as choice morsels by Northern
papers and partisans" / do not see when
they applied equally as much TO the
North as 10 the South In this same
editorial you admit that Gin the North
and West as well as In the South occa-
sionslly occurs lynching for some one
OF the "ten or fifteen" crimes. Aud GER
tainly no true Virginian who thinks of
the double lynching some few years ago
IN the town of Emporis can do so with
out blush Of shame. Irepeat Governor
Montague never said: "That It is gen.
eral throughout the South TO lynch for
ten or fifteen crimes, and you and others
are mistaken when you represent him as
plainly so stating, His address was
heard by large and most deeply inter-
ested audience. In that audience was as
much of cultivation, intelligence, patriot
ism, loyalty to the South and piety as
you will likely find gathered together at
one time. The address made profound
impression-an impression OF thankful
ness that we had in the gubernatorial
chair Of our loved State man, Chris
tian brother, who could plead so elo-
quently and powerfully for Law. Order
and Civic Righteousness.
Cordially yours,
F. B. BEALE.
Indian Neck, Va
Our good friend, Rev. Frank B.
Beale, takes issue with us on Gov.
Montague's utterances about lynch
ing. For personal reasons the CITIZEN
forbore commenting on the Gov
ernor's remarks in justification of
his acts in marshaling troops on a
large scale upon certain occasions,
and We are still disinclined to enter
into any controversy on the subject. !
Our information as to his utterances,
and that Of the public, is based upon
the reports of his speech, chronicled
by reporters and papers avowedly
friends to the Governor. According
to Mr.. Beale these public statements
were incorrect, but in all the news
paper controversy on the subject we
have not, up to this, seen a denial of
the utterances and application to the
South. While not saying SO our
friends allusions to the occasion
and character of his audience may be
misconstrued as taking us to task for
insinuations upon our Baptist friends.
Not the faintest allusion to occasion
or people is to be found in our edi-
torial. 1t follows.-ED. CITIZEN. (
The utterance of Gov. Montague, to
the effect that I'VE used to lynch for one
crime, now we lynch for ten or fifteen,"
Is being rolled as q choice morsel by
Northern papers and partisans. 1t has
aroused corresponding measure of re-
sentiment in the South. The delicacy Of
existing conditions precludes such COM
ment as we should like 20 make upon the
indiscretion of our high official. Suffice
1t to say that the charge is far from being
correct. In isolated localities and where
factional or facial differences have
wrought people to an unreasonable pitch
lin the North and West as we'll as in the
South-occasionally occurs lynching
for some one of the "ten or fifteen"
crimes, but that 1t is general throughout
the South to lynch for "ten or fifteen"
crimes, as plainly stated by the Cover
nor, We positively deny. We earnestly
protest against such language emanating
from one Virginians have so highly
honored, and who Is seeking still higher
gifts.