The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1904-10-13
LYNCHING STATISTICS.


In the current issue of the Independent appears
an interesting article by George p Upton associate
editor of the Chicago Tribune, on the subject OF
Bnehings. Mr.. Upton is the recognized authority
on this matter in America and for 20 years he has
kept record of all lynchings reported in the news
papers of the nation.
Mr., Uptons figures show that there have been
zS75 lynchings in the United States since 1886. the
emily states in which lynchings have not occurred
being Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont,
Rhode Island and Utah. In the south 2499 lynchings
took place; in the west 3O2; on the Pacific coast s.
and IN the east, H. The most prevalent cause of
lynching is shown to be murder, and Mr.. Upton adds
that, startling as it may seem, murder is the ma.
tonal crime His tables assign 73 different reasons
for the commission of the 2S75 lynchings OF the to-
tai number lynched, 1899 paid the penalty for mur.
der, while 564 were subjected to mob violence on ac
count of rape The other 1912 lynchings were COM
mitted for minor ofenses, not one of which "ofered
the slightest justification, {" Mr. Upton says.
The lynehing record is certainly an appalling
one. That 2S75 persons should have been killed by
mobs In 19 years almost incredible in this in.
teligent land, and in measure the condition is a
blot on our national reputation Bishop Chandler.
OF Georgia, AYERS that "lynching is due to race
hatred, and not to any horror over any particular
crime, but this conclusion seems scarcely logical
1t IS much more reasonable to suppose that the
ynchlng record denotes determination on the part
Of nchers to curtail the criminal tendency by mob
methods than disposition on the part of the lynch
ers to shed human blood. Bishop Chandlers asser-
tion is that Of man whose antipathy for mob
violence has made him unreasonable
Everyone will agree that the law should be al.
lowed to take its course in all matters and lynchings
are therefore to be deplored. However, we of the
north have little idea of the feeling of southerners
In the south the crimes which result in ynchings are
committed. Negro criminals, knowing that death
viii speedily overtake them persist in the most end-
zh atrocities in many instances their victims being
women and children. Drastic measures are neces-
sary, and if the law is ignored by outraged COM
muntes it is only because its operation is Inadequate
TO the occasion
The statistics are so arranged as to make the most
untavorabe showing for the south, and at the first
glance the ordinary student of national conditions
viii form an erroneous conclusion He will put it
down that southerners are inclined to murder,
through the medium of lynchings when, as matter
Of fact, lynchings occur with greater frequency in
the south than elsewhere because the crimes which
might possibly justify mob violence are most fire.
quent in that section Of the country The lynch
ing spirit is not the spirit of any particular section
and the people of Massachusetts, New Hampshire
Vermont, Rhode Island and Utah would be quite
rs prompt the southerners to take the law in their
own hands if rapists and murderers were as numer-
In their states. Not infrequently some rapst is
Enched by a northern mob, and, indeed it is the
exception when ravisher is turned over to the
law
The experience of the nation with colored Grim
nalS will not justify the declaration that legal pro
cedure will stamp out rape. With crime of this
sort no punishment is too severe. And as to the
attitude of the south toward the negro we believe the
people of that section thoroughly understand the
conditions. Certainly, they ought to- for the negro
is their burden. In point Of humanity and intelli-
gence southerners will average very we'll with the
best of us, and there is not the slightest foundation
for the oftrepeated statement that they are indus
triously seeking the lives of colOred residents
Lynching is terrible, and greatly to be deplored
but rape is thousand times worse
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