The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1912-12-13
GOVERNORS
REPUDIATE BLEASE.

The unspeakable governor OF South
Carolina who ranted before the Cover
nor'S Conference last week and declared
in favor of executive non-interference
with mob violence and lynchng bees
where the victim of the mob had been
guilty Of certain hineouS crimes, did not
speak for the southern governors, nor
did he voice their sentiments. That is
proved by the unanimous approval by
the conference OF a resolution intro
duced by Gov Mann OF Virginia, where
in Blease and his violent sentiments
were vigorously denounced; also by the
vigorous address of Gov. O'Neal of
Alabama and that OF Gov. GilchriSt of
our own Florida.
The south does not countenance
lynchings on the contrary every south
ern executive, except Blease, is ready
to do his duty toward bringing to
the bar OF justice those who make up
the mobS.
LynChingS are not peculiar TO the
south, though for one class of crime
they are perhaps more numerous here.
The people of the north have long de-
nounccd lynching in the south, and
rightly SO, but not more roundly than
do the true blue and loyal citizens of
the south themselves, who go further
and denounce mob violence and lynch
ings wherever they occur.
When viewed at a distance Iynchings
may be seen in proper perspective and
their hideouSneSS recognized. Not on
ly that; we imparlially see that they are
epidemic and that one outrage OF the
sort throws off the infection and leads
TO others. We have seen lynchings in
the last 20 years grow from rare event
into an almost daily occurrence, north
and south. Meanwhile, the crime
which it is supposed to check is enor.
mouSly on the increase.
Why? Because every outrage of the
law which sends one brute TO hell.
lowers millions one notch nearer 10 the
same brute condition. Rioters against
law may be honest in their intentions,
but they are woefully in error as 10 the
necessary effect of their work. Their
action is the deadliest blow that can
possibly be struck against the Justice
they claim to promote. 1t is the ami
hilation of the chief bulwork of society.
AS the blinded Sampson tore the pill
lars from the temple and caused if 10
fall upon his own head, so men who
take law into their own hands, equally
blind and unreasoning, lay violent hands
upon the staunchest support of the struc-
ture of civilization.
While ii may be assumed that lynch
ers are honest in their intentions, it is a
fact moi 10 be overlooked that the men
who ordinarily take the law into their
own hands and assume 10 themselves
the function of protecting women and
ShllHlSh I4S HOt vi inc SOTl 10 WlOm
helpless women and children would
generally care TO trust themselves.
The governors of most of the states,
north and south, are honestly striving,
we believe, TO stamp out lynchng in
their states and should have the earnest
support of all decent citizens every.
where Their warfare is against prac.
ticc that has done more TO loosen law
lcSSneSs and disregard for the rights of
the ordcrlovng public than any other
practice in existence.
Ii is not enough 10 say that lynching
opens the way 10 anarchy; ii is anarchy
itself, rampant and red handed, heinous
and hidcouS.
Gov. Blcasc has diSgraced his state in
thus blatanlly shouting his disregard for
law, and for a time the whole South
will suffer as result of his datribe; his
reputation by the conference will never
catch up with nor effacc the wrong
done this section by an unSpeakabe
firebrand and ScnsationaliSt whose on
ly desire was TO get in the public eve
and whO-SuCCCeded.