The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-10-28
PISGAH'S PLEA.

Our Pisgah correspondent makes a
weak and childish defense of his ad-
vocacy OF lawlessness. but this is to be
expected when the attempt is made
TO excuse or explain a wrong. The
man who participates In a lynching
Is law breaker and an instigator Of
crime against society and tie State.
Nothing that may be said an alter
this fact IL Is lawful and right and
the duty Of every citizen 10 do his
utmost to apprehend and bring a
rapist TO justice. but when the Grim
inal has been captured and delivered
into the hands OF the officers Of the
law, the duty OF the Posse oomitatus
fs at an end. Then the machinery of
the courts comes into play and the
criminal Is tried. convicted and put
TO death In an orderly manner. There
is none Of the savage and brutal In
cidents dear TO the heart Of the
mob. the majesty Of the law Is vindi-
Gated and the criminal is as surely pun
ished as if his body were hacked
TO pieces and distributed among the
mob. Our Pisgah correspondent en-
pends his energy In picturing. in as
Eruesome manner as his ability per-
mits. the enormity OF the crime of
rape and In denouncing the rapist.
instead Of trying to prove that 1t is
right and proper to advocate mob
law. lynching and Violence. No de-
cent man has ever defended the ra-
pist. or, sought 10 excuse or palliate
the crirr-. - TIE mon who cppoae
iawlessness and lynching are always
ready Co so az FAR and risk AS much
60 bring the criminal 70 Justice as
those who delight ia the brutal
pastime OF iynching. and more often
than otherwise the men who risk the
most In capturing a desperate GRIM
tnaf are not the ones who hang him
TO n convenient tree and mutilate his
dead body. The iynchers usually ap-
pear on the scene when the danger
ID over and the rapist bound hand
and foot They risk nothing In over
powering compTaisant sheriff or
seputy. and iynching becomes a
saturuaiia of bestiai iawlessness.
instead OF a vindication of law and
o defense OF society. Argument is
useless with those who will not listen
to reason. and II our Pisgah cores
pondent prefers to cast In his lot
with those who disregard the law
and make a mock Of our courts II is
a matter between himself and his
conscience. but we will ask him one
question. Would he personally take
part In iynching and then openly
acknowledge his participation there
I'm. or would he do as other lynchers--
seek by all means TO hide himself I'm
the mob and forever remain one Of
-the parties unknown to the jury"
III ne believes so firmly that lynch
ing Is meritorious act. why would
he not attend the coroner's inquest
and tell the truth about II. assuming
full responsibility for his so praise
worthy deed? When the leaders and
the rank and fle OF mob cease 10
he parties unknown" TO the cor
oner's jury We shall believe that
they are sincere In their protestations
that lynching r. n proper exercise OF
citizenship and necessary for the de-
fence OF our wor1en. So long as they
skulk and hide and are either afraid
or ashamed to stand up before all
mcN. in the courts OF outside. and as
sumo full responsibility for what
they have done. we shall doubt the
sinc'ri. ~ their convictions and
tfetT courage 90 face the conse-
quen o,- of cir disregard OF law.
as.--*-