A Dispute on Lynching – The Day Book, 1915

Republished from the free-thought newspaper the Day Book

Republishing to illustrate how the atrocities of yesteryear were supported by a racist
dehumanizing sociology, some of the language by the proponents is disgusting.

“THAT HANGING PICNIC” – Miss G. H., 8/12/1915

We have all been reading of the public hanging of two Negroes in Starkville, Miss., and of the fact that the event was
made a picnic, and that after the hanging the crowd sang a religious song, “There Is a Land of Pure Delight.” Surely
this is not America, which we are all so proud of! Surely no orgy of this kind could happen in a civilized nation, which
we believe we are! A friend of mine who has lived in the South a number of years tells me that I would feel differently
regarding the Negro if I were to live among them for a time. I wonder if I should ever feel a keen delight in the public
hanging of a human being of flesh and blood and brain. I am not capable of arguing the question as to whether the
Negro race is something between the lower animals and the white people, as some maintain. But no matter what the
race is, they should receive justice at the hands of the white man the same as other races do. This using them as a
kind of Punch-and-Judy show is certainly a most disgraceful thing. I believe that, given equal chances with the whites
for the same number of centuries that the whites have enjoyed liberty and rights, the Negro would equal the white man.
But whether I am right or wrong, if a crowd of Christians can sing for joy at an affair of this kind in question, I am glad
to be, instead, a humanitarian.

“THAT HANGING PICNIC” – A Southerner, 8/16/1915

After reading a contribution in your paper of Aug. 12, entitled “That Hanging Picnic,” it is with much disgust and feeling of
repulsion that I write this letter. Surely the contributor who signed Miss G. H. is either a Negro herself, or closely associated
with them, or related to them, inasmuch as any self-respecting white person could not but rejoice at such an event. I well
remember the article of which this woman spoke, and also the feeling of satisfaction which possessed me when I read it.
Would not one be delighted at having an opportunity to attend such a festival after knowing of some of the outrages committed
by these men upon white women, whom they covet and desire and whose trust they nearly always betray? Lately the
columns of the papers have been crowded with such happenings as the foregoing, and right in the face of it a woman
pens the aforesaid contribution. If Miss G. H. were to be in the South and express such an opinion as she has here, she
would be classed as a “Negro lover” and treated accordingly. That also goes for those who, a short while back, advocated
serving Negroes in the same restaurants with whites. If the Negroes were placed on an equal footing with the whites,
as some Northerners advocate, a very short time would elapse until they would crush the white people out of power and
existence. This is no idle supposition, but true facts based on history. Before expressing such an opinion as this woman
has, it would behoove her to be well posted on the subject, which would enable her to see these things in the light of a
white person. She frankly admits her ignorance of the question, but dares to contribute such a revolting piece of writing as
she has. To recall to the minds of some like Miss G. H. a few things which they have undoubtedly forgotten: When Jack
Johnson made the remark that he could get any white woman in Chicago for his woman, much hubbub was raised over
it, and women held indignation meetings — but that has been forgotten by most Northerners. And now comes a woman
to publicly intercede for them, and if she be white, her interest for them will be believed to be her passion for Negro men.
This is not from the pen of what Miss G. H. calls a humanitarian, but, thank God, instead, A Southerner

GIVE NEGRO A CHANCE – F.E.S., 8/18/1915

I am surprised to see so many letters published in The Day Book’s Public Forum in which the practice of injecting
personal criticism goes on unrebuked and without protest from any one. Hurling scathing remarks, which do not
relate to the subject under discussion, does not strengthen argument. It weakens it. A letter signed “Southerner,”
published Aug. 15, in answer to Miss G. H., is the cause of this writing. The injustice of the vile accusations which
he flings at Miss G. H. is sound evidence of a narrow, evil and filthy mind; and even though The Day Book does
not discriminate in allowing voice to opinions, it should have thought twice before printing a letter of that character.
In part Southerner says: “And if she be white her interest for them will be believed to be her passion for nigger
men.” Can a gentle lady like Miss G. H. do aught but blush for shame in being the object of so mean and filthy
an attack? It is only a man of his type that is capable of such narrow reasoning. I will answer Southerner to save
Miss G. H. from the humiliation of replying to a person in such a condition of mind. Will Southerner please tell
me why the white man’s system of courts and Juries is maintained at such great expense? Are not the courts
there to deal with all offenders of the law, whether white, yellow, black or red? Are not the juries there to give
culprits fair hearing, regardless of race, creed or color? Then why the lynching parties? The people that participate
in these lynching parties are murderers and should pay the full penalty of such lawless action. How do we know
that the negroes lynched were guilty? Innocent men are murdered for no other reason than that their skins are
dark. Educate the negro. Do not stunt him and keep him in ignorance. Ignorance is the cause of all these low
crimes, whether committed by the black race or white race.

If the negro can compete with the white man in civilization and development may the best man win.If the negro,
with equal opportunities, can show himself superior to the white man, why should the inferior race object to their
lead won by fair test of brains. I would rather be governed by intelligent, fair and progressive black government
than by scheming white politicians who see people of their own race murdered before their eyes without flinching.
Give the negro a chance! If the white race wants to prove itself superior, let them educate everybody with no
restrictions and take a great step in decreasing the number of crimes committed.

REPLY TO SOUTHERNER – William Greene, 8/19/1915

In his masterly written article (so characteristic of Southern ignorance, egotism and illiteracy) a contributor
who signs himself “A Southerner”—a contributor who probably has not the moral courage to sign his name,
but must resort to an anonymous signature—attempts to justify the recent public hanging of two negroes
at Starkville, Miss. The whole article is a contamination so vile that it pollutes the pages of The Day Book,
which has been foremost in the defense of the “bottom dog,” and in justice to the “bottom dog” such an
article should not be left unanswered. The status of the negro, especially the southern negro, is without
question that of the “under dog.” What opportunity had the negro for moral advancement before the civil
war? Very little, if any. Subjugated, oppressed and denied the benefits of education, the negro stands
forth today a victim of injustice—the product of his environment. And who is responsible for his condition?
I submit that the government and the people who make up the government, county, state and national, are
responsible. I submit that not the negro is on trial, but the alleged civilization of the whites—north and
south. Where the door of opportunity has been opened to him the negro has made good. I point to the
work and results at Tuskegee, the splendid record made by the negroes in thousands of schools and
colleges throughout the country and the number of men who have swelled the ranks of law and medicine.
The writer of the article referred to, however, sees nothing in the negro but the fact that he is a “nigger.” In
this respect he is typical of the “Southern gentleman,” arrogant, overbearing and superficial. Imagine an
educated man, probably a Christian, experiencing a feeling of pleasure and satisfaction at the edifying
and ennobling spectacle of two human wretches dangling by their necks, the revolting sight of two men
being ushered to their death to the tune of “There Is a Land of Pure Delight.” The shame is on Mississippi
and the nation. Open your schools, “Southerner”; destroy your guns, disperse your mobs, live according
to reason, give the negro his chance to make good, and in perhaps a hundred years or so the south
will emerge from the dark ages.

SAVAGE PICNICS – M. Greene, 8/19/1915

From the kind of picnics that the southerners get most pleasure out of would indicate just what kind of savages
and beasts they are, as we have seen from the recent report about the lynching of negro, where they enjoyed
themselves immensely, having drink and delicacies served in honor of the occasion. How any one could write
an article such as the one which is signed “A Southerner” further goes to show how bad they can get in even
suggesting that the motive for the article written by Miss G. H. might be her passion for nigger men. Space in
The Day Book is too valuable to write all I would like to and there may be more who would like to express their
opinion of “A Southerner.”

TO “SOUTHERNER.” – B.J.R., 8/20/1915

Being a constant reader of your valuable and fair-minded paper, I read with considerable amusement the article
printed the 16th inst., concerning “That Hanging Picnic,” which was signed “A Southerner. Thank God.” Now,
then, really, “Mr. Southerner,” I think you have very little, indeed, to thank “God” for. However, if you take issue
with this remark, I would suggest that you read the editorial published in the Tribune Aug. 18, entitled “Leo M.
Frank” and pay particular attention, “Mr. Southerner,” to the four last paragraphs.

MORE INDIGNATION – Miss Northerner, 8/21/1915

After reading “A Southerner’s” comment on Miss G. H.’s article in The Day Book of recent date I cannot help but
express my indignation and disgust with him. Just because Miss G. H. possesses some human feeling and is not
of the dark ages type like himself he takes the liberty of intimating that she has a passion for nigger men. Mr.
Southerner relates an instance that Jack Johnson made a remark that he could have any white woman in Chicago.
It was disgusting, indeed. But I should like to ask Mr. Southerner if he will be honest enough to admit that about
our own chivalrous white men? Does not every one of you, no matter how old or ugly you may be, think you can
flirt and have almost any woman you please? Fortunately, some of you get a real bump occasionally and you wake
up from your happy illusion. It is not necessary for me to go into a lengthy argument with you, Mr. Southerner on
the subject. I guess we have all had a pretty fair example recently of southern Justice. It has left a stain on your
south that will take a long, long time to wipe off. In conclusion, I wish to say that I am very happy that our land
is so divided that there is a north, east and west, that we don’t all have to live in the south and be subject to
your southern justice.

ANOTHER SOUTHERNER – Another Southerner, 8/24/1915

Day Book readers who condemn “Southerner” should stop and think. Suppose one of them came home some night
and found their wife, mother or sister prone on the floor, clothes torn off, dead or dying from the attacks of some big,
drunken negro; or suppose they came upon the body of their little daughter lying in the fields, its frail body almost
torn asunder by some vicious brute. They would forget all about their “humanity,” their judicial calmness would vanish
and they would want to apply the torch. Those who condemn the lynching of Leo Frank should before they talk secure
a transcript of the evidence presented at the trial, and, disregarding the evidence of the negro accuser, they would
have come to the conclusion that Frank was guilty and that death on the gallows would be a mild penalty. The fact
that all the courts in Georgia, as well as our supreme court, reviewed this evidence and refused to interfere should
make people hesitate to champion his case without investigation. If Frank had not been a Jew he would have been
hung two years ago and nothing would have been thought about it. People of the south resent the interference of
the northern press, which has been subsidized by Jewish advertisers. The jury which tried Frank heard the evidence
and acted accordingly. It was only after the verdict of the law had been set aside by the governor, who was a member
of the firm that handled Frank’s legal affairs that the people took the matter into their own hands and carried out the
order of the judge who sentenced Frank to death.

THAT SECTIONAL SCRAP – C.H., 8/26/1915

Don’t you see, ladies and gentlemen who in holy indignation come to defend Miss G. H. against the insults of “A
Southerner,” that this matter is not worth while to take up so much space of our valuable Day Book? This southerner
is prejudiced, like so many others of the south. He is opposed to her point of view. He had to write something, but
he did not know what. He did not know, because he is ignorant and narrow-minded. If “Southerner” had thought
twice before writing this much-criticized article he would not have done it in such a manner. But ignorant people
never think twice. Let us assume that he did not mean it so seriously, that his reply would have been different if
he had been just a little more civilized. Can you blame such a man for using such language? Let us forget it.
Miss G. H. is “avenged” and “Southerner” is but a southerner.