The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1881-08-11
NOT TO BE CoUNTENANCED.

The action OF the gang of men who
gathered at the court house last evening
for the purpose of avenglng the death of
Deputy Sheriff Spillman, by hanging
his murderer, merits the most emphatic
condemnation of every citizen who
prizes the reputation of Emporia at
home and abroad as law abiding town.
Aggravated as were the circumstances
attending the cruel taking off of the de-
ceased officer, they afforded no warrant
for proceeding which could furnish no
source of balm to his friends and whose
only Outgrowth, had the lawless
project proved successful, would
have been to intensity the horror of the
mournful tragedy of Thursday night,
and TO stigmatize the town 10 the fatal
detriment of her social and material
interests.
Happily, through the prudence and
foresight of Sheriff Moon, the deep dis
grace which the lynching of johnson
would have forever stamped upon EN-
poria has been averted, and this COM
munity will not stand charged, in the
eyes of the world, as responsible for the
lawless hanging of man who has been
recognized as insane by court of in
quiry, duly impaneled to sit upon his
case.
The failure, however, of the contem-
plated plan for dispOsing of Johnson,
does not rob the intention of its moral
turpitude, and should not secure those
identified with the reprehensible under
taking immunity from the just censure
which they have so fully earned. The
fact remains that q hundred or more
men were on the ground ready to lend
their hands to a proceeding that would
have inflamed the worst passions of the
assembled crowd to the highest pitch, and
given rein to q disregard of established
law and authority which, If carried TO
its legitimate goal, would result in an
archy and social chaos. Security to life
and property rests upon the supremacy
of the law and its entire vindication, and
any infringement upon this great
conservator of the public peace should
be regarded IN the light OF q dangerous
precedent subVersive of the most sacred
interests of society. The community
which condones an otfense in this direc
ton practically obliterates the line Of
demarkatiOn between law and anarchy
and makes aconcessiOn that imperIls ev
cry interest which conduces to its health
full growth and enduring prosperity
Mob law is essentially demoralizing il
its tendency, and history bears out tn,
assertion that its prevalence in any 10
cality is always marked by saturnalis
of crime which renders the tenure of hu
man life precarious to the last degree.
In thus cOndemning the unwarrantei
proceeding of last evening, we have req
son TO believe that THE NEWS reflect
the sentiments of the great mass of Tia
people in Emporia and Lyon county
and even those, who, in ths heat of indig
nation over the wanton murder of Spill
man, would have wreaked speedy ven
: gence upon his slayer, will, upon NOR
mature reflection, agree tina
such a course could have accomplishe'
no possible good, but would nave bee
productive of infinite harm.
The question of JohnsOn's sanity o
the value of his life to society as com
pared with that Of Spillmsn canno
safely be employed as arguments in thi
case. There is probably not sOlitar
individual in the county who has learne
: OF the sad event, but that deeply deplore
> the taking off Of man who WA univer
ally esteemed by all who knew him. BIZ
4 the painful aspects Of the case cannot b
mitigated by any demonstrations Of VII
lence in the direction OF avenging h
murder, and the parties who favor sue
. course and have manifested Willing
n ness to execute policy of that kind. n
= indulging a spirit of defiance against u
!. law which will never be continuance
: by the sober,minded people Of this con
!, munity.