Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-04-06


rs not 10 be doubted that the mob spirit pre-
walls over considerable portion of our Western
country and that. for lack Of the ordinary re-
stFaints OF juitice and law Ia eome States the re
currence of scenes OF violence - 80 common .
10 excite but little attention In tact, the people
seem TO De becoming accustomed 70 abolition
mobs in some parts oil the West. aud il j. taken
for granted that no one will punish the offenders
or protect the wrOnget This state Of things j
the natural result OF the doctrine- taught BY the
dominant party press Not only have they IL
many instances spoken in terms OF praise OF MODS
and their doiBgs but the entire spirit OF lassess-
hess which they have taught in Congress, in the
pulpit and on the platform. tends to the justhca-
ton of mob law and the encouragement of dem
onstraIions OF popular violence II Is not sur
prising that men Of strong passions should. under
such circumstances. recommend retaliation IN
kind, as the only method of protecting life and
property. But although natural. such recommend
atoms none the lees 10 be condemned. Firm
and decided resistance with whatever force is nee
sssary, must be approved. Every man whose
person or property Is attacked BY mob violence Is
justified in making the siernest resistance. and pro
tectiDg MS lite. family and property at the hazard
of shooting down or blosing np any mob, OF
whatever composition But retaliation is the
end OF Law and the beginning of civil war IL
must not be allowed, for it is a crime-as great a
crime as the original attack OF the mob. Ii i
stated on very good authority that secret organ
izAtiOns, calling themselves LOYAL leagues. are
ia process Of formation In this State a. well a.
in the West. These clubs are said to be armei.
and their secret oath binds them TO each other
for purposes which hardly be other than
illegal aud dangerous TO the public peace We
receive ntimations from various directions that
serious trouble is anticipated between these
"leagues" and the people who periodically disap
sproye them. The pretence that they are political
clubs, organized to sustain the Administration, IL
no apology for the secrecy Of their movements;
and the assurance frequently given by their mem
bers that they armed and ready for any
enc -gency" creltes just suspicious. One civil
war in a country is quite enough at time. The
constant threat of the more violent of the rad
Gals, that, if defeated in the fall elections. they
will fight for the supremacy. is an idle threat so
far attaining that supremacy Is concerned. but
is dangerous threat in view OF the horrible con-
diton into which the country might DE plunged.
by the occurrence of a single serious collision
between political parties in any village or city.
In times OF great excitement. such collisions may
spread and become war. We are living in a
time OF unexampled excitement Under the new
doctrines taught from the highest sources in the
dominant party, the people have vague aud IN
definite idea that we have no law. The radicals
will Of their leaders They Justify the exercise
of supreme power by the military commandant in
any peaceful city OF the North. Even here
in New York. supposed offenders against
the national law often arrested not
by legal process, but by military authority, and
the haoit of the people is such that arrest liz
deemed equivalent to conviction of guilt.
Hence prevailing idea that we are no longer
under the just and discriminating administration
OF law, but under the absolute will of Presi
dent, who is very much controlled bv surround
ing politicians. To this idea the radical news
papers contribute Thus the " ashington organ
OF the party told Us the other day that the Presi-
dent received 4 deputation of citizens "gra.-
ciously-a phrase that only applies To the con-
duet of one who has the characteristics OF royalty
in his person We read constantly of Especial
trains" conveying the families of high officials
from place to place The whole tendency of
things. under the present Administration. is To
ie,ch the people that We have passed out OF the
old republican forms. and into the new state OF a
people governed by absolute will. This is
not yet actually so, but the impression is thus
gwen. The result is disrespect for old laws,
and confidence on the part of the members OF
the radical party that their sins against The 0p-
position will not be severely punished This is
encouraged rather than checked by the party
press. No better Illustration can be given than
the publication in such papers as the Tribune OF
warnings to TRAITORS that the enrolment under
the draft would be manipulated SO as to take good
care that they be drafted. This publication was
actually made before the first draft, and beyond
doubt had much TO do with irritating and arous-
ing popular feeling. especially when it under
stood that the radicals classed as TRAITORS" all
the members of the conservative party.
We have called attention To this subject nov
for the purpose of asking men, especially editors
of newspapers, TO cultivate spirit of calmness,
and endeavor to pour oil on the troubled waters
There are wrongs on both sides, it may be'sad
Granted. it you please, and then both sides need
our warning. The spirit of mobs is encouraged
by violent. abusive. slanderous publications, on
either side. Let all good men discourage these
and determine to restore peace At the North. as
preliminary to general union.-lNew York
Journal of Commerce.