The United States of Lyncherdom on:
[Wikipedia]
[Google]
[Amazon]
"The United States of Lyncherdom" is an essay by Mark Twain written in 1901. He wrote it in response to the mass lynchings in 
A redacted version was published in 1923, when Twain's literary executor, Albert Bigelow Paine, slipped it into a posthumous collection, ''Europe and Elsewhere''. In his essay, Twain noted two law enforcement officials who had intervened and prevented lynchings in early 20th-century America. They were Sheriff Joseph Merrill of Carroll County, Georgia, and Thomas Beloat of
Pierce City, Missouri
Pierce City, formerly Peirce City, is a city in southwest Lawrence and northwest Barry counties, in southwest Missouri, United States. The population was 1,292 at the 2010 census. In 2010, the town annexed property along Route 97 into Barry Coun ...
, of Will Godley, his grandfather French Godley, and Eugene Carter (also known as Barrett). The three African Americans were accused in the rape and murder there of Gazelle Wild (or Casselle Wilds) on August 19, 1901, Twain blamed lynching in the United States on the herd mentality
Herd mentality, mob mentality or pack mentality describes how people can be influenced by their peers to adopt certain behaviors on a largely emotional, rather than rational, basis. When individuals are affected by mob mentality, they may make dif ...
that prevails among Americans
Americans are the citizens and nationals of the United States of America.; ; Although direct citizens and nationals make up the majority of Americans, many dual citizens, expatriates, and permanent residents could also legally claim Ame ...
. Twain decided that the country was not ready for the essay, and shelved it.
A redacted version was published in 1923, when Twain's literary executor, Albert Bigelow Paine, slipped it into a posthumous collection, ''Europe and Elsewhere''. In his essay, Twain noted two law enforcement officials who had intervened and prevented lynchings in early 20th-century America. They were Sheriff Joseph Merrill of Carroll County, Georgia, and Thomas Beloat of Gibson County, Indiana
Gibson County is a county in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 33,503. The county seat is Princeton.
History
In 1787, the fledgling United States defined the Northwest T ...
.
References
External links
* 1901 essays 1923 essays Essays by Mark Twain Lynching in the United States Essays published posthumously Works about Missouri {{US-lit-stub de:König Leopolds Selbstgespräch