Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1910-04-09
BISHOP COTTRELL
 ON lYNCHINGS
(Continued From Page 1.)

purposes toward Pine Bluff; and now [ am confronted in going before these people, who perhaps would give thousands of dollars to develop this great enterprise in Pine Bluff, with
 these recent lynchings which give me quite hill to climb to create a healthy sentiment in favor of the work I contemplated also prepar- ing for publication in the leading
 dailies an article, showing advan- tages of co1ored people going into the state of Arkansas and settling on the rich, productive land and cultivating the soil that will yield to them mora to the square acre than any other state in the Union.
 Now, when I bring this matter be- fore the people. I am confronted with the spirit of lawlessness that exists in that county. Unfortunately for the whole situation, I was in the city the very night that lynching occur red, thing about year ago per- haps little less time. Why don't the citizens of Pine Bluff get togeth- CT and see to it that these things are prevented? I am uncompromisingl in favor of every negro criminal whatever his crime may be, of being punished to the fullest extent of the law, and I am always loud in pro- claiming on the housetop that I am opposed to the negro committing crime. I am intensely interested in the south. I was born and reared in the South, and am giving my life for her interests, and it grieves me to see that the tendency of too many communities in the South is to con- done the spirit of lawlessness. If the better class of citizens of Pine Bluff does not get together and or- ganize for the protection of them- selves in defense of law and order. she will find herself handicapped in her material progress. I want the citizens of Pine Bluff to know my position, and if it meets your approv- al to call public attention to the con- tents of this letter in it's entirety, will appreciate it."
 Father Lucey replied to Bishop Cottrell as follows:
 Your letter of the second instant has been forwarded to me here where l am making a brief sojourn for health's sake. I thank you for the kind expressions to me personally and for your approval of my letter on lynchings to the Pine Bluff Graph ic of the 29th ut. I have received several letters from prominent white citizens in commendation of the sen timents presented the letter.
 T have no hesitation in saying that all of the best class of citizens of Arkansas are strongly opposed to mob violence. The last Legislature passed law requiring the courts to give speedy trial where there is danger of the criminal being lynch ed. Lynching however continues spasmodically in the state for about the same reason that grave crimes continue to occur in New York City, Pittsburg and other places. The best citizens of a community are general ly less watchful about their interests than the worst citizens are about theirs.
 ..The lawlessness in the Southern states may be traced to two sources, heritage from the pioneer life of a half a century ago and an inability CT the part of the Southern element to adjust Southern ideas of life to political complications for whose ex- istence others than themselves are responsible. The time, however, has now come when the great majority cf the Southern people wish mob vio- lence to cease and the laws of the land to be supreme. It will take a little while to work out the details of this problem, but they will be worked out. Patience and intelli- gence are necessary to both races at this stage of the proceedings and would encourage both yourself and your people to look only on the bright side of the picture.'