The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1906-01-12

the record of past year. You know
how South Carlina, together with
other of our sister States, has had
reproach heaped upon her on &C.
count of the dastardly deeds OF
reckless, lawless and irresponsible
men. l have just stated that no
convictions have been secured yet
in spite of this fact, the realization
that the arm of the law would be
invoked that a determined attempt
at least would be made to prevent
its ruthless and barbaric desecra-
ton; that criminals would be pros
ecuted for their crimes; that the
ccroner's inquest and the usual
verdict would not be the end, but
only the beginning-these have pro-
duced their effect, and, as a result,
better conditions have prevailed.
Those who would take the law IN
their own hands have been made to
think: the masses Of Our people,
who are at heart law-abiding, have
found hope and encouragement,
and the sworn officers of the law
have had their grave responsible
ties brought more closely home to
them. For more than a year South
Carolina was not disgraced by
lynching, no case occurring which
could be properly so classed.
Had been able to report to you,
as I had sincerely hoped to do, that
Our State, since your last session at
least, had been spared the shame of
another lynching-that for this Pc
riod no human life had been law
flessly and barbarously taken by an
armed mob-I would have been
deeply gratihed at such convincing
evidence of the increased respect
shown for law and order. While
1--WE have every reason for encour-
agement, the recent killing Of two
defenseless negroes by an armed
mob is for every reason to be de-
plored and condemned. Such out
RACES are not only fragrant and in
excusable, but they inevitably lead
| to the disregard of all law, the
cheapening Of human life and the
undermining of our very civlllza-
ton. The lawless element must be
made to realize the consequences
that follow the blind passions and
preiudices Of mobs which take the
law into their own hands; human
life must have every right guar
anteed in our constitution, and law
less and reckless violators must be
prosecuting without fear or favor
to the utmost limit of the law.
AS long as I am Governor Of the
State shall use my strongest en-
deavor for the suppression and
punishment of those who disre-
gard our laws, especially in the mat.
ter of lynching. I shall not be de-
TERED in the discharge of this duty,
however unpleasant it may be, be-
lieving that in thus seeking to up
hold the law, I am serving the best
and highest interests of our State.
7 have been actuated solely by this
motive in what I have done, and l
am firmly convinced that one con-
viction would not only materially
decrease the future record Of the
State in respect to .lyrchings, but
would also encourage the upbuild-
ing Of better sentiment among
our people.
In this connection l am gratihed
to report that during the past year,
whenever necessity arose, the So
licitors and Sheriffs have shown
every desire to discharge their full
duty and to cooperate with me in
every way possible for the enforce
ment of law. This is as it should
be, and when a Sheriff Or other off,
Ger, whose duty it is to protect the
life of a prisoner in his custody, al
lows the mob to take him away
without a determined effort on his
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