Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-30
APPEALS FROM THE MOB.
Clifton r. Breckenridge Calls for Law
and Order in the South.

Keen interest has been aroused through
out the south by speech delivered recently
by Clifton R. Breckenridge. former repre-
sentative in Congress from Arkansas and
amba ssador to Russia. at Little Rock at the
annual meeting Of the Arkansas Confed-
crate Veterans Association. An extract
from the speech follows:
I'VE have reached point where of neces-
sity reason must temper passion. We must
seriously ask ourselves If the mob policy
does not increase the crime which it seeks
to prevent. Does 1t not brutaiize the black
race, and, to a large extent. at least, bru-
talize certain elements Of our own race?
Does it not in short. disorganize society.
lessen respect for law. render the rela-
tons between the races more menacing
and greatly increase the prevalence of the
crime against which it Is directed and the
number of the victims. 1t is the purpose to
save? If this be true, then we must seek
a better policy.
Mere abstract declarations amount to
nothing in a case like this. No true man
will for a moment count any cost Of blood
or treasure If their expenditure is neces-
sary to stamp out this unspeakable crime.
But for all that, hatred and passion must
not wholly take the place of reason. and
especially II they lead only to an increase
and multiplication of ills. The heads of
families and the brothers must thought
fully take hold Of this question. To them
prevention is even more important than
revenge.
THE most appealing and effective OBJ
lection to the customary trial Is the pub
licity Of testimony and the right Of appeal.
But my friends. the people are sovereign
in all such as this. Their lawful power ia
practically absolute If the usual laws do
not meet this extraordinary condition let
us change them. Let us make the taking
of testimony In these cases as limited, II
necessary. as 1t Is made by the mob. Let
US provide the jury, of course as the mob
provides its delegation or committee. Let
us take away the right Of appeal and give
final and Immediate jurisdiction before a
local magistrate.
higher than that 1t is not g. race ques-
ton. 1t is higher than that. Let the law
apply equally to white and black alike.
Let us ask the help Of good men of all
an honest effort to shield from violence
the homes Of all, and We shall not ask in
vain. 1t may be our fault II we let this
become race or party question.
enough of itself. We are the dominant.
the ruling race, but we are under bonds
to rule with Justice and honor. The aboli-
ton Of slavery took the lid of Of the Afri-
can race and made the race question inevi-
table. 1t would have come in time. any
way, but events have precipitated and COM
plicated the issue. When 1t will be solved
no man knows. How It will be solved no
tiently meet the phases OF the questions as
they arise from time to time with a firm
and high resolve that we will do our duty
by the black race as well as by our own.
and that we will settle the question, not by
carnival OF slaughter. Injurious and dis
graceful to US and utterly destructive to
them. but by the precepts Of that religion
which Is the basis Of our civilization and
which teaches. regardless Of social, intel
lectual or racial differences, the fatherhood
Of one God and the brotherhood of all men.
Let US do whatever Is necessary to be done:
but the time has come for US to do It. not
by the mob, but by law"