The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1912-12-11

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A conference of the governors from
a number of states was held in Rich
mond, Va, last week and a number
of subjects considered, and larger
number of speeches made. The honors
for the most fiery and Incorporate
eloauence went to Governor Blease,
of South Carolina. His utterances
we're not only sensational but dis
graceful and so coarse as to drive the
ladies from the hail. In defending
his doctrine of lynching negroes gull
ty of attacking women he uttered
language brutally coarse and disloyal
in sentiment.
Governor Carey of Wyoming, who
was present, after listening to the
sentiments expressed by Governor
Blease, asked him if he had not taken
an oath to support the constitution
and laws of his state, and ii those
laws did not protect negroes as well
as white men. Governor Blease re-
piled, "When the constitution steps
between me and the defense OF the
white women of my state, will re-
sign my commission and tear 1t up
and throw it to the breeze. l have
heretofore said to hell with the consti-
tuition"
Governor Gilchrist of Florida an
swered Governor Blease and said:
"The first thing that indicates man
" man or womanly woman is
thoughtful consideration for other
people." Governor Shafroth of Colo
RADIO, in speaking of the lynch law
doctrine, said: "One mob can do more
injury to society than twenty murder
ers, because a lynching permeates the
entire community and produces an
archy. The influence of mob rule is
most reprehensible" He says, when
laws are made it should be the duty
of the governor to enforce them'
whether he approves or not. When
the law prescribes hanging for an Of
tense and a man is found guilty, he
should be hanged, whether white or
black, and there is no excuse for MOP
law. | conceive it to be our duty as
governors to declare for law and or
der"
There can be no wonder why lynch
ings are so frequent in South caro-
lima and other states when senu-
ments such as Governar Blease ex-
pressed at the Richmond meeting are
tolerated. The trouble in the south IS
that with a demagogue such as Gov
ernor Biease the denunciatlOn OF the
colored man is made a stepping stone
to political preferment. Governor
Vardman of Mississippi worked his
way from obscurity to the Office or
governor of his state and later to the
United States senate by his sensa-
tional and brutal attacks, in public
speeches, upon the colored people OF
his state. No one should defend the
colored people or any one else against
the wicked deeds of which they are
guilty, but the evil effects OF their
deeds are not more harmful to the
public generally than the lawlessness
of public officials, who, in order to win
support at the polls, will publicly ad-
wise the people to engage in lynching
their fellow men when there are laws
in existence to deal with such cases.
The only way that crime can ne
dealt with effectively is through the
orderly enforcement of the law, which
will insure the detection and conVlc-
ton of all criminals and certain and
adequate punishment to follow. AS a
rule men who will engage in lynch
ing their fellow men are least apt to
enforce the law when called upon
the Jury to pass upon the guilt or IN
nocence of one charged with vlolat-
ing the law.