Semi-weekly interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1881-1905, 1882-11-14

MOD law u very Threly Jusunhole'
Itisoften passionate, undiscriminating,
unreasoning, cruel and murderous.
Not until the officers Of the law entire.
ly fail 10 protect the community, is
there any justification for irregular
banding of men to take the law into
their own hands. We deprecate and
condemn mob violence in the strong
est terms.
The Judge, the Governor and the
military officers did right to call out
aud use such military force as was
necessary to protect the prisoners aud
secure 10 them a fair and impartial
trial. When the troops were assault.
ell by murderous weapons in the hands
Of the mob, the military did right to
pour a volley into the mob. IL is not
the duty Of civil officers to suffer
themselves to be killed by evil doers,
aud make no resistance. The suffer
ing and the peril ought 10 fall on the
evil doors themselves.
But, behind all this, there Is n ques.
ton, what causes lei 10 the assembling
Of the mobl MODS do not spring up
spontaneously in this country. They
have producing causes. What, then,
were the sources Of this onel
Thoughtful men all around us give
the same answer. These causes are
found in the failure Of the courts aud
Of the Executive 10 punish crime.
There is such failure, and there has
been for years Aud it is because
men have seen notorious criminals go
ing unwhippcd Of justice time afIer
time, year after year, that they be.
come 50 excited as TO use violent and
lawless schemes for the punishment of
murderers aud robbers. IL is when
men feel that the law will not protect
them, that they attempt To protect
themselves.
There has been such a failure on
the part Of our courts. They have
erred in granting to the accused 50
many pOstponements Of trial, changes
Of venue, new trials, etc, as 10 weary
out the witnesses aud secure the final
acquittal of the guilty by the death, or
removal, or WEAKNESS Of those who
could testify. Aud while our courts
continue this leniency, they may ex-
pect to see mob law.
The errors Of the courts have exist
ed; but ten.fold, nay, a hundred-fold
greater has been the error Of our Ex
ecutive. From the day Of his inaug
uration his course has been a standing
invitation 10 mob law. Any thought.
full man could see that lynch.law
would necessarily follow such mawk-
ish tenderness toward hardened crimi.
nails as has been manifested by the
Executive during the last three years.
He has seemed TO make a prominent
part of his work TO find excuses for
the liberation Of the worst enemies of
peace aud good order. He has sue
ceeded in making the people feel that
at present, conviction Of crime does
not ensure the punishment of the
criminal.
These words are not too strongly
spoken. Only recently man died at
his home in this city, who had been
pardoned by Gov. Blackburn out of
the penitentiary. lie had the blood
Of six or eight men on his hands; at
length he had been convicted and
placed where he could murder no
more. But he got sick, was appar
emily near TO death, aud lest his family
should be disgraced by his death in the
penitentiary, the Governor released
him Time and again have despera.
does been pardoned during the past
three years, only to recommence their
work of robbery, rapine or murder
almost Immediately. SO far as we re.
member, every lottery dealer, and ev'
cry gambler that has been indicted in
this State has been pardonedby the
Governor. The abuse Of the pardon
ing power and the encouraging of
crime have been carried TO such an
extent that people are beginning TO
feel that the law no longer protects
them.
A helpless lunatic was recently
murdered by officers or employers Of
the asylum at Anchorage. Has the
Governor taken any steps for the re-
moval or punishment of the Head OF
the asylum who permitted it. The
man who deliberately murdered Judge