The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-07-22

punishment Of crime through the ordi-
nary legal channels and the orderly
administration Of justice. Good citi-
zens of every section OF the country
will undoubtedly agree that this
course is the ideal one under a gov
eminent such as ours. But, my dear
sir, have you ever thought that IL or
Plantations Of people who are con-
stantly passing resolutions condemna-
tory of lynchings and denouncing as
harbaric and uncivilized communities
in which they sometimes occur, would
devote a modest portion of their time
in efforts to let the inhuman brutes
who commit the usual crime which in
cites the people to take the law into
their own hands. it might result in
lessening the tendency to mob rule
and lynching."
OF course, the resolutions are aimed
at the south, although IT is not so
stated in specific language. l am a
southern man, nearly sixty years OF
age, and have lived in the south all of
my life. I know conditions in the
southern states. and know the negro
fully as well as any living man my
. age. not only have never participated
in a lynching. but 1 never witnessed
one in all my life and sincerely trust
I never may. Brutes, both white and
black are sometimes lynched in the.
south, but they are generally thus dis
posed of for assaults on women, such
as / believed on three distinct occas-
IONS have been committed within the
past few days almost within the sha-
dow of the national capital. However,
the record will not show that any
white man. or negro man either. has
ever been shot down like dog in the
l. al
negroes We're shot down in East st.
Louis, in the state of Illinois, few
short years ago. The negro in the
south is privileged under the law to
work out his destiny, as fully enjoy
ing all his legal rights as does the
white man, and the Industrious and
law-abiding among them are accumu-
lating property, educating their chill
dren with funds mostly raised by tax
alton OF the property Of the white peo-
pie, and are content, IL only let alone
by agitators who either know moth
ing of conditions, or whose hatred OF
the south inspires them to create
trouble. The man of no country, or
section of country, in my opinion, are
worth 'tinker's DAM il they do not
respect and protect at any and all
hazards the virtue and chastity of
their women, and my humble judg-
| ment is that both white and negro
brutes will cease to be lynched in the
south when they cease to make as
saultS upon women, and not before.
| Those who seem to be SO bitterly OPP
posed to the SUMMARY execution of
these brutal assailants of innocent and
defenseless girls and women, with
great JUNCTION say: Let the law take
! it's course" What does this mean?
1t means that the brute is to be in
generated in a Jail and fed and fat
tened for several months, and when
the trial is held,,the wretched victim
! of the heliish lust of the inhuman
scoundrel must appear and detail all
the shocking facts and circumstances
of her shame and degradation in the
presence of the gaping crowd assem-
bled in the court room. To any re-
fined, innocent, virtuous woman, death
would be much preferable to the pass
ing through such an ordeal as this.
When your organization is so solicit
Gus of these brutal, bestial creatures,
do you not think it would be well not
to waste all your sympathies on them,
but rather to give a little thought to
the pure young girl or the virtuous
young wife and mother who has fallen
a victim to the hellish lust of the
beast? These victims have suffered
more than a thousand deaths, and
their families have suffered with
them. A mad-dog or a rattlesnake is
shot down on sight. and how much
better is the rape demon than the
mad-dog or the rattlesnake?
While, as I have said. / have never
taken part or even witnessed a lynch
ing, ! am quite sure that in the south
they have always got the right man.
and the swfftness and certainty of
punishment has undoubtedly deferred
other brutes from the commission of
this crime. Right here at the very
doors Of the capitol, three white wom
en-, according to the city press. have
been ravished by a negro brute, or
bruites. within the past two weeks
and the criminal or criminals. are still
at large. The victims, robbed OF vir-
tue suffering the tortures of the
damned, with their lives forever
blighted, while this brutal beast still
travels the public highways seeking
to satiate his infamous lust. In this
community where they "let the law
take its course" innocence and virtue
are PROSTATE at the feel of the hell
born lust Of the beast, while the Off
GERS of the law are busily engaged in
an united effort to see to it that no
contraband whiskey invades the sa-
cred precincts of the capitol
/ sincerely trust that you organiza-
tion and others may turn your at
tentfon towards lessening the need for
summary punishment Let us not for
get the victim when We are deploring
the fate Of the rapist.
Yours very truly,
FRANK CLARK
FS-hef NJ. G.
Washington, July Z, 1919.
Hon. Frank Clark
House Office Bldg
Washington, d. c.
Sir:
Permit mo To brine ~ yo,,r a+.on