The midland journal., 1906-12-07

cusable anywhere-it is a defiance of
orderly government; but the killing
of innocent people under any provo
cation is infinitely more horrible; and
yet innocent people are likely to die
when a mob's terrible lust is once
aroused. The lesson in this: No
good citizen can afford to countenance
defiance of the statutes, no matter
what the provocation. The innocent
frequently suffer, and, it is my obssr-
vation, more usually suffer than the
guilty. The white people of the South
iudict the whole colored race on the
ground that even the better elements
lend no assistance whatever IN fer
reting out criminals of their own col
oil. 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 it provokes such
atrocious offenses as the one at At
lanta. The tive races can never get
on until there is an understanding OH
the part of both to make common
cause with the law-abiding against
criminals of any color. y
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 It
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 MAKE
good and safe neighbors and citizens.
Reward or punish the individual Oil
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 eolored race in par
ticular, for colored man to fail to
help the officers of the law In 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 case
with murder; assault with intent to
commit rape should be made capi-
tai crime, at least in 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 least 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 into
prominence in the community all the
foul and evil creatures who dwell
GucIclu. NO HAL Cdn IdhC JdAI III CAiO
torture of a human Icing without
having his own moral nature perman-
emily lowered. Every lynching means
just so much moral deterioration in
all the children who have any knowl-
edge of it, and therefore just SO much
additional trouble for the next gen
Grafton of Americans.
Let justice be both sure and swift !;
but let it be justice under the law,
and not the wild and crooked saw
agery of a mob.
Capital and Labor.
In dealing with both labor and cap
ital, with the questions affecting both
corporations and trades unions, there
is one matter more important to re-
member than aught else, and that is
the infinite harm done by preachers
of mere discomfort. These are men
who seek to excite a violent class hat.