Arizona republican., 1906-04-16
THE TWO sPRINGFIELDs.

It is something of a coincidence that the two fiercest race riots of recent months have occurred in two Spring fields-Springfield. Ohio. and Spring field. Mo. The latter Springfield Is in politically if not geographically, southern territory where those whose observation is not clear or whose recollection is indistinct. are inclined to think such things are the more likely to happen.
 As a matter of fact a race disturb ance is not matter of geography, but of conditions There must be in the first place two races and next a more or less strong provocatiOn offered by one or the other. The probability or improbability of consequent punish ment is also to be taken into account
 There are more negro lynchings in the south than in any other part of the country because there are more negroes there. and consequently more real or imaginary provocatiOn.
 But there is nothing in the southern temperament that peculiarly inspires men to take the law into their own hands in the case of negroes who sin against the community. While it is true that lynching of negroes was first practiced in the south to the indignation of the north, the crime of the lynching spirit cannot be ascribed to a detestation of the black race, nor can the origin of lynching be traced to slavery times, but to a much later date-the reconstruction period when the whites of the south sought, as they believed for self preservation, refuge in the mysterious and ghostly Ku KluX Klan. Whatever may be said of the wisdom of this plan of self defense against the impending black domina- tion. it was believed by the best people of the south to be right. Negroes were not to be murdered, but to be cowed
 The Ku Klux Klan was modified in many northern communities into the white caps for their protection against lawless persons who could not be ade- quately and regularly dealt with.
 The first negro Iynchings took place in the south. Later they spread to ,he north with the growing negro popula- tion until they are now confined to no section of the country. There is only one thing that will restrict the activity of mobs and that is tne sense of duty of officials mingled with official de- termination to perform it.
 A comparison ofthe two Springfield lynchings is interesting if not profitable. The Ohio affair was precipitated by the shooting and wounding of a railroad brakeman by a negro whereupon the whites rose and attempted to anninilate the negro pop ulation of the city. The militia was called in, the mob spirit was quelled and shortly it dissipated itself We be- lieve there was no serious effort on the part of the authorities to punish the leaders or those who took part in the wanton outrage upon the negro settlement.
 In the Missouri case the prOvocation was a crime so horrible as to be name less. The alleged negro perpetrators were promptly arrested and put into jail. The mob rose, took them out, lyncned them along with another ne gro charged with murder and it is now threatening other negro criminals or alleged criminals. There has so far been no attempt at indiscriminate slaughter and destruction.
 The energetic governor of Missouri has interfered and is endeavoring to procure the punishment of those re- sponsible for. the lynching. He will succeed if possible and if he succeeds. future lynchings will be more likely to break out at Springfield Ohio, than at Springfield, Missouri.