The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1906-12-06

Ottcflv government Dut thc hiiiihE
of innocent people under any provo
cation is infinitely more horrible; and
yet innocent people are likely to die
when mob's terrible lust Is once
aroused. The lesson in this: No
good citizen can afford to countenance
n defiance of the statutes, no matter
what the provocation. The innocent
frequently suffer, and, it is my obesr-
vation, more usually suffer than the
guilty. The white people of the South
iI,dict the whole coored race on the
ground that even the better elements
lend no assistance whatever in fer
reting out criminals of their own col
oi. The respectable colored people
must learn not to harbor their crimi-
mails, but to assist the officers in bring
ing them to justice. This is the
larger crime, and 1t provokes such
atrocious offenses as the one at At
lanta. The two races can never get
on until there is an understanding OIL
the part of both to make common
cause with the law-abiding against
CRIMINALS OF any color.
Moreover where any crime commit
ted by member of one race against
member of another race is avenged
in such fashion that it seems as if
not the individual criminal, but the
whole race, is attacked. the result is
to exasperate to the highest degree
race feeling. There is but one rule
in dealing with black men as with
white men; it is the same rule that
must be applied in dealing with rich
men and poor men; that is, to treat
each man, whatever his color, his
creed, or his social position, with
even-handed justice on his real worth
as man. White people owe it quite
as much to themselves as to the col
ored race to treat well the colored
man who shows by his life that he de-
serves such treatment; for it is sure
ly the highest wisdom TO encourage
in the colored race all those indivi-
duals who are honest, industrious,
law-abiding, and who therefore maks
good and safe neighbors and citizens.
Reward or punish the individual Oh
his merits as an individual. Evil
will surely come in the end to both
races if we substitute for this just
rule the habit of treating all the mem
bers of the race, good and bad, alike.
There is no question of ''social equal
ity' or "negro domination" involv-
ed; only the question of relentlessly
Furnishing bad men, and of securing
to the good man the right of his
LIFE, his liberty, and the pursuit OF
his happiness as his own qualities
of heart, head, and hand enable him
to achieve it.
Every colored man should realize
that the worst enemy of his race is
the negro criminal, and above all the
negro criminal who commits the
dreadful crime of rape; and it should
be felt as in the highest degree an
offense against the whole country,
and against the colored race i'll par
ticular, for colored man to fail TO
help the officers of the law i'll hunt
ing down with all possible earnest
ness and zeal every such Infamous Of
fender. Moreover, in my judgement
the crime of rape should always be
punished with death, as is the ease
with murder; assault with intent to
commit rape should be made capi-
tai crime, at least i'll the discretion
Of the court; and provision should be
made by which the punishment may
follow Immediately upon the heels OF
The offense; while the trial should be
so conducted that the victim need not
be wantonly shamed while giving tes-
timony, and that the beast possible
publicity shall be given to the details
The members of the white race on
the other hand should understand
that every lynching represents by
just so much a loosening Of the bonds
of civilization; that the spirit Of
lynching inevitably throws int
prominence in the community all the
/ foul and evil creatures who dwell
therein. No man can take part in the
torture of human being withou
having his own moral nature perman
emily lowered Every lynching mean;
just so much moral deterioration il
all the children who have any knowl
edge of it, and therefore just so mucl
additional trouble for the next gen
!eration Of Americans.
Let justice be both sure and swift
but let it be justice under the law
and not the wild and crooked sav
agery of a mob.
Capital and Labor.
In dealing with both labor and cap
ital, with the questions affecting botl
corporations and trades unions, thery
is one matter more important to re
member than aught else, and that j
the infinite harm done by preacher
Of mere discomfort. These are mel
who seek to excite violent class hat
red against ell men Of wealth. The,
seek to turn wise and proper move
ments for the better control Of cor
porations and for doing away witt
the abuses cannected with wealth, in
to u campaign of hysterical excite
ment aud falsehood i'll which the aiI
Is to infiame to madness the bruta
} passions of mankind. The siniste
demagogs and foolish visionaries VIII
are always eager to undertake such
camapign of destruction sometime
, seek to associate themselves wit
. I A.