The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-12-03
THE FLUTE WALKER LYNCHING.
Says the Newberry Observer:

coSS tue ANtWDtfEy ODScfNcT.
THE lynching of Flute Walker Is
not to be argued about. IL is what
ninety out of every hundred white
men In South Carolina would do un-
Ter like circumstances. and what an
equal proportion OF the white women
would approve. He met his just fate
the fate that will overtake all who
walk in his footsteps"
That Flute Walker met his Just
fate" In the sense that he merited
witt punishment by death for the
peculiarly diabolical crime which he
had committed Is. indeed. not "A mat
vt about which there Is room for
argument. But II does not follow
hat his lynching was justified. There
Is no room for doubt that had the
lynchers trusted to the law he would
nave been accorded a speedy trial,
followed by speedy punishment. There
Is no room for doubt that no COM
nunity can take the law into It's own
hands without suffering evil as a re-
suit.
The instinct OF white men TO
Nreak summary vengeance upon
hrutcs such as Flute Walker Is ex-
plainable. although II does not find
ia impulse In the argument OF the
Observer that other black brutes are
deferred thereby from committing
like crimes. but thoughtful citizens
ought always to exert their influence
for the orderly execution OF justice
by due process OF the law. One ex-
ception breeds another If the mob
be permitted to assume control In
the punishment OF one crime. they
viii extend their operations to cover
other fiends such as he from walking
the mob will next undertake to do
for themselves what they have at
nrst done only In association with
others-settle their own grievances.
avenge their own wrongs. without re-
gard TO the Courts
Whether the lynching OF fiend
like Walker has any effect in staying
other hends such as from walking
In his footsteps is doubtful. hut
nothing IN better established than
that the community which counten.
ances the commission o( a Iynching
within It's borders invariably suffers
as result. Were there any reason
TO distrust our Courts in these mat
ters the case might he otherwise.
but there Is no such reason. Lynch
ings have decreased In number in
South Carolina In recent years. and
we are Of the opinion that the man
ner In which Governor Hayward In
vestigated those which occurred dur
ting his administration and the ef-
forts which he made To bring the
men taking part In iynchings to
punishment had something to do
with this result. Whether Governor
Anscl will display like vigor re-
mains 90 be seen.--Ncws aud Cour-
Ter.
The above Is well said and should
by needed by all who wish this To
continue law-respccting country.
but we fear II h labor lost. When
such men a. the editor OF the New
berry Observer condone lynch law.
even whom provlcation L. greatest.
what ground for hope Is there that
n mob intlamcd hy passion and the
excitement of the chase viii stop to-
think az .hc courts and the orderly
processes Of the law? Lynch law Is
hwlcssucss and rctrogrcssion to-
ward that condition Of s1v,gcry from
which civilized society has emerged
Us thousands OF years Of effort and
travail Tho underlying spirit Of lynch
law Is not the same as that which has