Richland beacon., 1873-10-11
LYNCH LAW AND THE SITUATION.


Owing to the intense excitement
alluded to in the following communl-
cation from Mr.. HEMLER, the subject
of Lynch Law has been freely dis
cusscd among the people ofour Parish;
Had the murderers of Mr.. Archibald
been captured immediately after the
horrible deed was committed, they
would probably have been lyncbed
and the penalty of their crime quickly
administered by an exasperated null
titude without a single dissenting
voice from among the masses of our
people. Hang 'em "'-"hang 'em J"
is the loud and mad cry that would
have stranglcd and drowned every
other consideration 1t would be
useless to deny this fact. 1t is but in
keeping with the laws of nature
Humanity is so constructed that sud-
den outburst of popular Indignation
may unexpectedly drive any people
into an extreme measure The socie-
" of Richland Parish had never be-
fore received such an astounding and
painful shock. For many years pre-
vious. peace, quiet, and prosperity
rcigned throughout our parocbial bor
ders Most effulgent rays from the
lamp of enlightened civilization bril-
liantly illuminated every rural home !;
and all things seemed harm oniously
working together for good to the whole
people of Bichand. A more prosper
Gus, intelligent, order loving and law
abiding people were not, and are not
now, to be found anywhere. But
they are of the Adamic family and
have Inherited enough of human ma
ture to subject them to these sadden
and dangerous outbursts of anger, yet
their passions arc Of kind that will
subside and soften upon mature re-
Election and what might be approved
of under the impulse of moment
would be bitterly discountenanced
when the passions had cooled sufli,
cient to surrender to the control of
the better Judgment. Hence, the lit
tie mob of lynchers who recently Wis
tied our town and demanded the Jail
keys with . view to hanging LEWIS
Robinson Gf such was their object)
was but bubble on the ocean of ex-
element which heaved in the bosoms
of hundreds of the best people of our
State which bubble evaporated, and
the fever of excitement is now being
cooled by thoughtful reason; while
we have every assurance, from the
very best sources, that no further de-
monstration shall be made, that the
law will hereafter he maintained, and
that if ROBINSON is hung, it shall be
legally done. We have no hesitancy
in stating that this can be relied on.
We know whereof we speak. We
arc proud to know, ieel and realize
that we lYe in land of talented,
highly cultivated, civilized and ra-
tional beings, and not among wilful
law-brcakers or bad people at all.
No man, with particle of common
sense, will approve of Lynch Law,
while reason undismayed sits EN-
throned as rule and guide to his
conduct. Therefore it is useless for
US to adduce arguments to prove that
there is no danger of resort to Lynch
Law in Richland Parish. Our Sher.
if himself is satisfied of this fact, and
in bis removal Of Robinson he only
feared what might prove the result of
mOmentary excitement. In this be
acted we'll and wisely and his official
conduct on this occasion will vet ele-
va.e him in the confidence and esteem
OF even the angry individuals whom
he thus Outgeneraled. The guard
which he now places around the Jail
is only in carrying out orders from
the judiciary, and will be dispesded
with as soon as he can do SO withou,
violation Of duty as an officer of the
law.
We have hitherto been silent upon
this subject, simply because editorial
advice during the fever ofexcitemeut
would have evaporated "like sweet
ness wasted upon the desert air.
The light of reason now dispels the
froth ofaDgry excitement in the minds
of an enraged people, and they are
prepared to think and read. Some of
our would-be-dictators are not at all
pleased with the silent course of the
BEACON. To them, it.scems that we
have said things we ought not to
have said, and have left unsaid many
things that We ought to have said.
Our advise to such individuals would
be- for each one to start a newspaper
of his own, as the mere attempt of an
editor to please them would insure
his lodgment in the lunatic ASYLUM.
AS for the BEACON, it is governed and
controlled by our own better judg-
ment, regardless of what may please
and tickle the fancy of chronic grum-
blers. But our columns are always
open to any Of our citizens who may
IL A. L