Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-03-31
ruLoaIz1Na JUDGE LYNCH.

recognizes that the ordinary admins
tration OF the law does not protect the
wives, mothers and daughters OF the
land from constant danger at the hands
OF the brutes who always seem 10 be
lowering near where women are ex-
posed and helpless. "
And again:
THE fear OF quick aud fierce retribu-
ton is protection to society. There Is
no DENYING that fact. 1t is not neces-
sary 10 apologize for such methods OF
inspiring fear in the breasts oil brutal
men. The trouble is that they apollo
gize for themselves by reason OF the
straits TO which society IS driven ior
adequate protection.
We confess TO feeling Of surprise in
reading sentiments OF such character
in the editorial columns OF the h'tesl'-
Csnesr. 1t sounds very much like the
rough and ready style OF journalism OF
the Black Hills and other wild Western
localities. Such sentiments hardly
comport with the tenor OF communities
where law is held the supreme arbiter.
We agree with the htslEy,Gcer that
there are frequent instances OF crime 50
brutal and abhorent as to make society
lenient towards the administration OIL
lynch law" There are frequent in
stances in which the offender has been
made to expiate his crime at the hands
OF the mob, when the inner sense otthe
whole community said 1T served him
right." Yet men who hold the Supre-
macy Of law above the importance o!
reyenging single instance OF crime,
however horrible, ars always careful TO
distinguish between the deserts OF the
criminal and any seeming justification
OF this mode OF serving them out.
We don't think that, in this com
mnnity, any appeal for or against,
the supremacy OF law, It's necessary,
But there is no more effective method
OF weakening and destroying pub!iccon-
tidence in the efficacy oil tho civil law
than in Just such assertions as the IN
,elligsacsr makes when saying that $50
ciety recognizes that the ordinary al
ninistration Of the law does not protect,
etc" When society settles down to
such conclusion as that, it will be Il
lark day in the history o; civil govern
ment. No man believes that the law
cannot, and is not willing to protect So
ciety, as fur as any human law-incsld-
ing lynch laws competent to
10 SO. And when society
reaches the conclusion that the penal
ties OF the civil law are not sufficient to
deter men from they willb made rs ter
riblc as judge Lynch himself could de-
mand, or, ut least, rs severe as
public sentiment, in its calmer mood,
shall justify. And We are glad to say
that We 10 not believe that society Is
vet ready to conccdc the seeming con-
.Iusion OF the Iat,lysHcsr that the civil
'aw has exhausted it, resources ami Is
impoteut and incapable oi meeting the
demands OF justice.
Another iallacy Of q kindred charac-
ter is that which lays 50 much stress
upon the uncertainties Of the law.
When crime is committed aud Public
passion is inilamed, the public verdict
IS based more upon the desire
TO see punishment inflicted upon
he offender than upon any calm and
uIirious judgment, - To the circum'
stancesanI motives which have occasion
ed il. A case is easily made up upon
the loos, and unreliable cy pTte stat
ments oi Madam RumOr, an the public
settle down into the earnest conviction
that the pcrpctrator o, the iced i
guilty aud must suffer the penalty
which the law prcScribcs. But whcr
the matter is submitted to judicial
scrutiny aud twelve mon, who are re-
moved tom the influences OF passion
and prejudice, try the case and render a
verdict accor,Iin. To- the law and tcsti'
mony, the public verdict is very ire
lueutly and very necessarily reversed
Then 1t that the cry Is raised .! '''"S'
who have decided the ease on ru'''r
. an, l,E.T
'hout the uncertainties OF '''c "'''.'"
iStra,'on o' Jaw zoe" +" Ho' r",.''
establish the c'ril"'3 "' J"''''sS' q. Us
administration Is not the 'a''n' Ju.'''
Gus Judgment o' court 70 DE pre-,
'erred Z" inc passionate "'l'''''"l''''
But We 10 not pretend To argue that