The Duluth Tragedy.

The Duluth Tragedy

The people of Duluth appear to express a greater amount of indignation over the lynching of three negroes in that city than they do over the terrible outrage that caused the stringing up of the black fiends, The city of Duluth is not disgraced. There have been lynchings in other cities and the towns survived the shock. Lynch law is to be deplored, but the crime which led up to the rule of the mob is more deplorable.
The city of Duluth can recover from any stigma that may be attached to the quick hanging of the negroes. A few years hence people will have forgotten the incident–but the unfortunate girl–what of her? She is the one to be considered. Her fate is far worse than that which has befallen the city.
And it must be understood that white men–men of blood–will not sit idly by when black rascals pounce like fiends on white woman. Those of the pulpits may deplore and preach against the acts of the mob but in such instances the anger of the mob knows no restraint. They are out to avenge foul deeds.
Mad dogs are shot dead without ceremony. Beasts in human shape are entitled to but scant consideration. The law gives them by far too much of an advantage. Their victims are humiliated in the courts and their names dragged through the mire by conscienceless lawyers who have no hearts and know no pity.
Referring to this phase of situation, The St. Paul Pioneer Press said: “The unfortunate victim of such an assault, if she survives, must undergo intolerably humiliating examinations before court and jury, and must endure legal bickering among attorneys over the most abhorrent details. In many previous instances of lynch law it has been made perfectly clear that a desire to shield the victim from a legal inquisition little worse than the crime itself, has been partly responsible for mob vengeance.” That explains lynch law in a nutshell.