Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-04-11
The Mob spirit.

issues. and heavier taxation Il Round Table.
The Mob spirit.
Its not to be doubted that the mob spirit pre-
walls over a considerable portion of our Western
country, and that, for lack OF the ordinary re-
strants of juitice and law in some States the re
currence of scenes of violence is SO common AS
TO excite but little attention. In fact the people
seem TO be becoming accustomed to ABOLITION
mobs in some parts OF she West, and il is taken
for granted that no one will punish the offenders
or protect the wrOnged This state of things is
the natural result OF the doctrines taught by the
dominant party press Not only have they III
many instances spoken in terms of praise of mobs
and their dongs, but the entire spirit OF awless-
ness which they have taught in Congress, in the
pulpit and on the platform. tends to the justifca-
ton of mob law and the encouragement of dem
onstrations OF popular violence. 1t 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 are none the less to be condemned. Firm
and decided resistance, with whatever force is nee
essary, must be approved Every man whose
person or property is attacked by mob violence is
justified in making the sterDest resistance, and pro
tecting bis life, family and property at the hazard
of shooting down or blowing up any mob, of
whatever composition. But retaliation is the
end of law and the beginning of civil war Ii
must not be allowed, for &c is a crime-as great
crime as the original attack of the mob. Ii is
stated on very good authority that secret organ
izarons, calling themselves loyal leagues" are
in process of formation In this State as well as
in the West These clubs are said to be armej,
and their secret oath binds them to each other
for purposes which can hardly be other than
illegal aud dangerous to the public peace. We
receive limitations from various directions that
serious trouble is anticipated between these
Leagues" and the people who periodically disap
aproye them. The pretence That they are political
clubs, organized to sustain the Administration, Is
no apology for the secrecy of their movements;
AMI the assurance frequently given by their mem
bers that they are armed and ready ''ior any
eme gency" ere ties just suspicious. One civil
war In country is quite enough at time. The
constant threat of the more violent of the radi
calls, that, it 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-
dition into which the country might be plunged
by the occurrence of 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 IT, a
time Of unexlmpled excitement. Under the new
doctrines taush hit from the highest sources in the
dominant party, the people have vague and in
definite idea TINT we have no laws. The radicals
everywhere teach that the controlling law is the
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 are often arrested. not
by legal process, but by military authority, aud
the habit of the people is such that arrest is
deemed equivalent to conviction of guilt.
Hence prevailing idea that we are no longer
under the u:t 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 Washington organ
of the party told the other day that the Presi-
dent received deputati0n OF citizens "gra--
ciously"-a phrase that only applies to the con-
duct of one who has the characteristics of royalty
in his person We read constantly of special
trains" conveying the families of high officials
| from place TO place. The whole tendency Of
things under the present Administration, is TO
lie ,ch the people that we have passed out of the
old republican forms. and into the new state Of n
people governed by an absolute will. This is
not yet actually so. bus the impression is thus
gwen. The result is disrespect for old laws,
aud confidence on the part of the members of
the radical party that their sins against ,he op-
position will not be severely punished. This Is
encouraged rather than checked by the purity
press No better Illustration can be given than
the publication in such papers as The Tribune of
warnings t TRAITORS that the enrolment under
the draft would be manipulated 50 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 ARGUS
ing popular feeling. especially when it under
stood that the radicals classed rs TRAITORS" all
| the members of the conservative party.
We have called attention to this subject now
for the purpose of asking men. especially editors
of newspapers, to cultivate spirit of calmness,
aud endeIvor To pour oil on the troubled waters
There are wrongs on both sides, it NAV be said
Granted. if you please and then both sides need
our warning. The spirit of mobs is encoura ged
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.-( New York
Journal of Commerce