The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1877-07-26
THE RULE OF THE MOB.

The terrible story of mob supremacy
in Pittsburgh for the best part of two
entire days is told elsewhere. 1t is
written in blood and ashes-desolated
houses and streets swept as with the
besom of destruction. Buildings and en-
terprises that were the pride of our city
but few hours ago are now in ruins ;
untold millions of property has been de-
stroyed, and the list of killed and
wounded will not fall short of hundred.
We realize for the first time in our his
tory what mob rule and mob law is, and
that when we once pass the line that di-
vides the law breaker from the faithful
citizen, how fearfully rapid is the de-
scent to scenes of the most brutalizing
and inhuman character. Commencing
in illegal intimidation by class of OPP
pressed mechanics; illegalities which
undoubtedly carried with them in the
object sought to be attained the sympa-
thies of a large portion of the communi-
ty, how quickly we were engulfed in the
vortex of lawlessness and anarchy, with
arson and murder giving law to the city.
How the scenes of the last few days must
burn into our minds the lesson that all
sympathy with lawlessness, however al.
Turing its sophistries, is the sure and
certain road to destruction. A redress
of grievances can never be reached by
weakening the bonds that hold society
together.
Another lesson the events of the last
few days emphasizes, and this is that
great corporation, possessed of boundless
wealth and resources, with its thousand
arms stretching to the remote parts of
the land-a corporation that is omnipo-
tent with legislatures and governors,
and tenderly coddled by the judiciary
cannot in the usefulness of its power
pursue systematic injustice and oppres-
sion without experiencing day of reck.
oning. The striking fact of the late
riots-indeed 1t is a fact that people at
distance will hardly be able to appreci-,
ate - was the absolute difference Of
nineteen. twentieths of our citizens to
the initial blows aimed at the Pennsyl-
vania Railroad Company. 1t took de-
cade and more of injustice and wrong to
every business man of Pittsburgh to
bring about this condition of public SEN
timent. We grieve to say it, but under
no other circumstance could the mob
have worked out such terrible result
Another lesson, and we close for the
present, is the development the riots
have made of the stupidity, incapacity,
recklessness, and in fact imbecility, Of
the State government. The machinery
of Mexciah State could not have done
worse, and m ght have done better 1t
blundered by aggravating displays Of
bayonet power, when the mob could
have been influenced or controlled, and
then in the hour of supreme danger,
when vigor and rapidity of action was
the great requisite, it took itself out Of
sight. People forgot there was such a
thing as State government in Pennsyl-
vania. In its earliest efforts it was a
double-headed concern, with attach
ments, and in its latter it had no head at
all. The Sheriff of the county seems
to have lost his head, and what little
brains there is in it, early in the trouble.
The Mayor was fussy, inefficient and at
one time seemingly Indifferent, on a
plea that his authority had been super
ceded by the State and county officials.
A few skillful detectives under his orders
could have spotted the dozen drunken
leaders of the mob, before the Union
Depot Hotel was fired. If the Mayor
had had little of the hero in him he
could have charged at the head Of fifty
policemen and dragged these wretChes
away and broken the backbone of the
riot in the hour of its greatest power
In ordinary times we float along with
any sort of government over us, but
when the dire occasion arrives that tests
the capacity and cslibre Of men, how
wofully wanting these pigmies show
themselves in all the requisites of high
station.-Pihsburgh POd.