The Colorado statesman., 1919-07-19
A MENACE TO CIVILIZATION.

"HE lynching record of the year
just closed, carried by the Asso-
ciated Press, and published in
the Constitution" shows that Geor-
gia leads all other states, with eigh-
teen lynchings to its discredit, or twice
as many as any other state.
The list of states in which lynch
ings occurred during 1918, with the
number of such crimes committed in
each state is as follows: Alabama,
3; Arkansas, 2; California, l; Florida,
9; Georgia, 1S; Illinois, / Kentucky,
1 Louisiana, 81 Mississippi 6; North
Carolina, 2; Oklahoma. 1 South Caro-
lima, L f.; Tennessee, 4 E; Texas, o; Vir-
ginia, = Wyoming, l. This list was
compiled by the Department of Rec
ords and Research of the Tuskegee
Institute, and is accepted as being au-
thentic, as the accuracy of its Statis-
tics in this respect has never been as
sailed.
1t is certainly approximately cor
rect. and the showing should bring
the blush of shame to the cheek of
every Georgian who is proud of his
state and sensitive to any disparage-
ment of its good name,
In only sixteen of the forty-eight
states did any lynchings occur during
the year just closed. The total num-
Der was siXty-two, or twenty-four more
than during 1917. Georgia headed the
list in 1917; and, as if determined not
to be outdOne, comes forward with
eighteen 1ynchings to its discredit for
1918. with its nearest competitors
standing neck-and-neck with nine each
the record of both combined equal
ing that of Georgia alone.
OF course Georgia will receive its
due quota of publicity as result of
this discreditable record of outlawry.
For years the Constitution" has been
engaged in an effort to arouse SEN
timent in this state that would stamp
out lynching and mob violence.
The time was when lynching was
resorted to as punishment for only
one offense; and when it was most
exceptional that Il lynching occurred
for any other than that one cause.
Whenever there was Il lynching for
that cause those who conducted it took
the position that it would never be
resorted to for any other.
THE Constitution then expressed
warning that, if mob law We're toll
Grated in any instance and for any
cause, it would surely spread; and
that it eventually would get beyond
bounds: that it was only Il step from
lynching for that one type of crime
to mob law for less heinous Offenses.
Our prediction has come true, as is
shown by the fact that, of the eigh-
teen lynchings that occurred in this
state last year, only Il small proportion
of the number bore any relation what
ever to the offenses for which lynch
ing was ever accorded any measure
of justification
Now we find lynching resorted to
as punishment for even robbery and
petty crime. Either the public senti-
ment of Georgia must put an end to
lynching. and restore universal power
and authority of law, or else mob law
is going to pull down the civilization
of this State
Time and time again the "Constitu-
ton" has sounded the warning that,
if the state does not meet its obliga-
tions in this respect the federal gov
ernment will step in and do the work
itself because no state in the Union
is going to he permitted thus to black
en- the national escutcheon. The worst
feature of the lynching record of Geor-
gia is that every year it grows worse,
and the state seems to be helpless.
Again we appeal to the better people
of Georgia to waken n!-ConstitutiOn,
Atlanta, Ga.