THE SPIRIT OF VIOLENCE by E. J. Driver

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Nov 6, 1901

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 27, No. 45.

THE SPIRIT OF VIOLENCE.

By E. J. Driver

In such days as these, with part of the world resting on its arms; its factories busy, and the nerves of its commerce tingling with a triumphant, “All is well,” with others we are apt to pride ourselves on the rapid strides of higher civilization. Be it sadly said, however, that oftimes a glimpse behind this outward calm reveals civilization yet a long call from the top of the hill. Such a glimpse is here quoted from a recent article in the Nashville American, describing the burning of a negro murderer by a mob of 2000 persons:—

“Burn him” was the cry. A dozen men then began gathering dry saplings, which were piled around the tree. A number of men caught the prisoner and bound him to the tree with chains, one chain extending around his neck and the other around his body. Some of them came forward with a five-gallon vessel of kerosene, which was poured over the body of the wretch and on the fuel. The negro never moved or showed any signs of breaking down during this ordeal.

A number of men scrambled over each other for the privilege of lighting the funeral pyre, and a number of matches were applied. The negro remained stolid until the flames enwrapped his body, then he shrieked with pain.

It was the intention of the mob to burn the victim slowly, but the rapid work of the flames thwarted this, and he was dead in about three minutes. Groans were heard until the flames had burned away the lips.

There were deafening yells from the mob while the wretch was burning. Members shouted that was the fate of all committing such crimes. The crowd then began dispersing, and in about an hour there were only a few on the scene. The body was burned to a crisp, nothing remaining but the trunk.

After the fire died down there was a rush for souvenirs. The chains holding the charred body to the tree were cut off, and the links divided out among those present. One man took out his knife and cut out two of the negro’s ribs, which he took with him. The ropes with which the negro was bound were also cut into fragments and divided among the men.

After the body was taken from the tree, it was placed on the burning wood, and was left in the smouldering mass. It had not been removed to-night, and was almost completely burned.

There was no effort on the part of any members of the mob to disguise themselves.

Modern history gives us no stronger pictures of abject barbarism and brutality than is seen in these lynchings; and in view of the enlightenment in our country to-day it seems incredible that men of intelligence should stoop to a degradation so low that it can go no further. Deaf alike to the appeals of reason and morality and the demands of law, they can be stopped only by their own impotence, only when brute force must yield. It is recognized that only one argument can be made to appeal to those who take part in these bloodthirsty bands, and that is the assurance of law that life imprisonment awaits each member, and even this appeal is weak indeed. The spirit of civilization does not thrive in their hearts, and the dealing with these men becomes one of the largest social problems of the day, inasmuch as it is not local, the Southern center throwing lines of violence throughout the country.

These things are not indicative of higher civilization, but rather the signs of a coming storm.

E. J. DRIVER.