New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-01-02
LYNCHING IN THE CdPITiL.

The Nation has escaped what would have
been properly felt as q National shame. The
worst of outrages having been inflicted
up0n respectable young woman. and
pair of black persons arrested upon sus-
picion that they were the assailants, the
crowd in it's rage desired incontinently TO
hang the prisoners without judge, jury or
warrant. The police, by no means certain that
they had captured the proper parties, remon-
strated 10 good purpose with the vol
unteer avengers, who agreed to suspend
their extra judicial and extra-injudiciols
proceedings. The affair also led to
an indignation meeting" of respec-
"table and influential citizens" at the Eighth
Street Presbyterian Meeting House. Major
Myers, who presided, hearing some one call
out, "Where is Judge Lynch" answered
that if the guilty parties were found,
Judge Lynch wculd do his work with
"out any prompting" A chairman should
also be a moderator, but there was nothing
moderating about this. If there is any place
where the laws should be respected, it is where
they are enacted. Lynching on the frontiers
and in newly settled territory has been more
frequent than a people anxious for the good
reputation of the country could comfortably
consider; but lynching in Washington, the
seat of the Government, and under the
very noses of Senators and Represen-
tatves, would be shameful scandal.
Notifying things enough have already hap
pcncd in Observation-Disclosures. assaults
and batteries under the great dome itself;
and justice has not always been prompt
ly and sufficiently meted out to law
breakers; bat real, regular and
metholical lynchng on one of the trees of
PennsyIyania-ave:, especially if the wrong
man happened to be hanged, would create not a
little excitement of an intensely disagreeable
KIND, even in foreign lands.
Second thoughts are the best, and the meet
ing above mentioned did well not to put Its
unlawful impulses into the shape of resolu-
zion or "A rope, but to content itself with
mildly demanding a new station house, and
an increase of the police force. The Chief
oe-Police has consulted with the Secre-
tary of the Interior, who has come
10 the conclusion that about 400 able-bOdlcd
constables will not be too many if it be true
that crime is unusually prevalent in the city
we mean crime of the kind usually in ycsigated
also been appointed, numbering 100 men,
bcrs-aI "property owners and good RESPONSE
.'blc men," This is much better than lynch
ing. and will accomplish the desired purpose
quite rs ellcctually. With pretty large share
of the dangerous and disturbing elements of
population, Washington has a municipal gov
eminent not over efficient, except in the ar"
,icle of spending money. If the rage tor APP
propriations can he directed in the way OF
measures for the preservation of good order
there. nobody will grudgc any reasonable cost
Whenever it has been proposed to establish
the seat of Government in some one OF our
populoUs cities, the cry of danger from pOpu-
lar violence to the cOngregated wisdom has been
raised In the same spirit, some may now ask
whether Washington is no! ltsef somewhat too
Dig for it's business. Especially If the gal
lcries should grow more rlotous, or the
sacred person of some honorable member
should be outraged by moo, or the de-
alterations of the House be maniiestly
affected by pressure from the outside.
Washington might easily be made the best
governed city in the land. and for the credit
of the illustrous name which it bears, it should
be such. As the largest property owner there,
the United States should do its share toward
making the capital w-abidmg; if others in
tercsted will not cooperate, they must take
the consequences.