THE LYNCHING HABIT.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 382, 3 September 1903, Page 6

THE LYNCHING HABIT.

Although the lynching habit has ceased to be a strictly sectional phenomenon, it is interesting to find in • southern paper, the Macon (Ga.) Telegraph, the best summary we have seen of the frightening progress of this social disease, says Century. The Telegraph shows, by cited examples, the growing boldness of the lynchers. These affairs used to be, conventionally at least, somewhat secret. Xow, what do we find but that, first, as in Colorado, women are present as spectators; second, as in Leavenworth, Kan., net only women, but school children, and in the latter case the barbarity proceeds, without interruption, within the limits of a large city; third, as in Terre Haute, Ind., a photograph is taken of the pleasing scene, and reproduced in the newspapers; these particuiar burners of living men, instead of trying to hide their identity, "stand boldly out," and one of them, perceiving the photographer, "even removed his hat, as if anxious for notoriety;" fourth, as in Corsicana, Tex., it is a "county ev>nt in which every resident who con'd took part"—verbal invitations were sent out in ail directions—"store and farm work were stopped, e**d people poured into town by hunC' r"s. They came in all sorts of vehicles, from an ox-cart to the special train of seven cars,- all crowded, that was run from Ennis." The Macon Telegraph observes that "from all this it is but a step to a legitimate public spectacle in a great amphitheater, with handsome private boxes for the wealthy, and tickets advertised a week in advance." But how lobjt aL r o was it that Americans were advancing, as a justification of our procedure in relieving Cuba of Spanish Vi'Jc, the demoralization of the Spanish people as proved by their fondness for bu!t-f.£hfs? What, then, is indicated in American character by this new and popular American pastime —roasting alive of human beings, with the accompanying scramble for "relics?" One of the most surprising and discouraging features of the lynching has been the absence from the newspaper records, until lately, of unfaltering opposition'to lawlessness on the part of those sworn otlieers of the law immediately responsible for IY.e safe-keeping of criminals: nor have we heard of effectiv-j'.y heroic interference on the part of humane and law-abiding spectators—men or women determined that horrible and demoralizing violence she'! r.ot be done, and that their community and country shnll not be disrrneed in the eyes of the civilized world. It has occurred to us. indeed, that perhaps it was time for the press to get cut spTific advertisements for heroes nr-.i martyrs on the line of opposition to the scandalous epidemic of American lynehings, when lo! without the advertisements, the heroes hee-in to make their Doubtless the heroes will "- cisc in number, and perhaps then may yet be martyrs likewise, thou;'!, as a fact, we ought to be able to g'" along 'v r thout the martyrs, as thi ; wouid *•, i new advertisement of civ. C.-- :;»n. I '••■- hi Tune at least two •■ ■ -:-ced where Iv -• ■■} by the heroic ecu g ! he same of Joseph Merriti. ' irrol! county, .Ga.. and riff Beloat. of Prirr"- -,-> he writt n !;•; n i >v . . !*•••■» fftrne. Their deer '-- -•'»"• "y ir ;>. dark moment "■ ■ of American civilization. T . ■ -f is sMre to be imitated. The > ■ ■ one fearless man over a crowd is unlimited. There is a scene in "Huckleberry Finn" which shows this vividly, and Mark Twain, in telling bow Col. Sherbtirn stopped - a lynching —the lynching of the colonel himself, by the way—was not inventing, but describing' an occurrence in his own town and time.