LYNCHINGS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 2, 3 January 1934, Page 3

LYNCHINGS.

MOB RULE IN U.S.A.

CONDITIONS IN THE SOUTH. "WHITES OTTTNTTMBEItED. An idea of the state of mind which lies behind the lynchings in the southern States of America, which have recently figured in the news, was given to a "Taranaki Herald" reporter by a resident of those parts who is at present living in New Plymouth. "The main body of negroes who are domiciled south of the Mason-Dixon Line live and die the lives of labourers," he said. "They are the object of mistrust on the part of the whites, who tolerate them only because of their usefulness as beasts of burden. This mistrust is likely to become inflamed into racial violence by any incident where the black has offended against the white. In the south the negroes are never known by any other name than 'niggers' and the barrier between the two races is impassable. At least this was the case when I left the States some years ago, and the old code of the south is too inflexible for conditions to have changed much in the intervening period. Conditions Akin to Slavery.

"The 'nigew' are chiefly employed as hands on the cotton and sugar plantations. These are usually very extensive and something like 300 to 400 workers may be employed. They live in shacks on the plantation land, and out of their wages of a dollar to a dollar and a half a day, have to find their food and clothing. Virtually the system is not much different to the conditions ruling under the days of the slaves. The negroes work a sun-to-sun day and are constantly under the eyes of an overseer.

"Even in prison the black is placed in cells separate from the other criminals. In the south a white prisoner would be considered to have a legitimate grievance if he could prove that he had been quartered in the same cell as a 'nigger.' Negro landholders are practically unheard of in the south. They are not encouraged to become independent. They have their own schools, but the percentage of literacy is very low, on a par with their standard of living. Usually the plantation hands end their lives in the same circumstances as they began it, without having moved out of the sight of the plantation on which they are employed.

"Nowadays perhaps the chief reason for the rigfd manner in which a negro's comings and goings arc ordered, is the good old one of fear. The blacks outnumber the whites to such a degree that the latter arc afraid of what might happen if they,were given any say in community life. The 'niggers' have no rights of franchise; they cannot even ride in the same railway coaches as the white people. In the towns they have their own quarters and from these they seldom venture unless on business. Their relations with the whites lire always those of the servant and master, and generally they are kept thoroughly under hand.

The Bumptious 'Nigger.' "There is no human being quite like the bumptious 'nigger.' He is an offence to the eyes and senses of the southerners, and when a black does become overbearing and 'biggety,' there is sure to be trouble. The success of the coloured boxer, Jack Johnson, led to the feeling between the two races breaking into straight-out riots and brawls all over the southern States. There was a case in one town where five negroes were summarily executed and their bodies kicked through the streets. However, most cases of lynchings have a deeper origin than this. "For a negro to flirt with a white woman in the southern States would amount to him signing his own death warrant. There is an attitude towards women almost approaching reverence; an attitude reminiscent of the days of medieval chivalry. Interference with women is likely to be the signal for a mob outbreak, whether the crime has been committed by a white or a black. Law officials may do their best to shield their prisoners from the mob, but what can a few men do against a thousand ? Lynchings are not the result of the unruly portion of the populace becoming out of hand; the whole white population rises up to avenge the infringement of its code. One man, or even a body of officers, cannot stand against them and indeed rough handling may be meted out to any interfcrers, whatever their status. The portion of the negroes not affected by the manhunt do not show their faces until the whole excitement has died down. They do not even dare shelter the fugitive; to do so would probably mean the same fate as he must inevitably face when he is caught. If the offence is not murder or interference with white girls, the negro will receive a fair trial in the courts.

'Making Certain.' "Though mob hysteria certainly occupies a prominent place as a cause of lynchings, these are not the hastily conceived substitute for the law that they at first appear. Meetings of citizens are called to discuss the course of action to be taken, and everything is done in a most methodical manner. Whatever course is decided upon, is a matter for the community as a whole to deal with. That is what makes the thing sq, irresistible. To their way of thinking the lynchers are completely in the right. They are making certain that justice will be done, and with a possibility that the accused man might escape—although the chance of a southern judge extending leniency to a negro in any serious crime, is very remote —they make sure in no uncertain manner. There is no let-up in the chase for the fugitive until he is caught, and usually the whole affair is brought Ito a .speedy conclusion —the deatli by j hanging of the offender. "The half-caste is as big a problem in America, as he is in any other part of I the world. He regards himself as a cut above the ordinary negro, but to the whites he is still a tainted being, as far beyond the pale as if he was a pureblooded African. Usually in character, bearing and mental powers he is better ; equipped than the black, but that makes ino difference to fiis status among the I white population. Unsatisfied with his j lot as a plantation labourer and unable to gain recognition in any other sphere i of life he drifts to the cities to swell i the vast cosmopolitan throng. His like can be seen, particularly in New Orleans, where together with some of the finest families of the south may be found the scourings of all the races of the earth."