Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1888-06-21
Mob Law and Anarchy.

4
bomb was made by Louis Lingg, and
its deadly work was proved TO have
been the result of the deliberate plans
and plots of his fellow Anarchists
They had fair trial, able council,
every right granted them under the
constitution. They were found guilty,
and seven received the death sentence.
Their case was carefully reviewed by
the Supreme Court of Illinois, and the
findings of the lower court sustained
1t was carried to the highest tribunal of
our country and there no cause for in
terferance was found. One committed
suicide. two were granted commuta-
ton to life Imprisonment: through ex-
eeutive clemency, and four were legally
executed Public sentiment in the CITY
where the crime was committed largely
approved the execution. The general
sentiment throughout the country
and throughout the civilized world was
that justice had been done. Yet one
newspaper that comes to our exchange
table declared the execution murder,
and made martyrs of the Anarchists.
In the month of May, 1888, two aged
people living in Vernon county, Wis,
were murdered in cold blood by a
wretch who sought to rob them. Their
two innocent grandchildren were then
butchered to prevent Identification. 1t
was horrible crime. The victims
were old people and young children
But who will say that the deed was
fouler than the hurting of deadly
bomb from q dark ally and destroying
seven men in the prime of life, besides
manning many others? The men who
were directly responsible for this out
rage were men of education who were
in position to receive the benefit from
the laws they sought to destroy. The
man who is supposed to have COM
mitted the Vernon county murder was
born and reared in sin and ignorance,
He was too dangerous a wretch to 90
at large. If proved guilty, which
would have been an easy matter if his
confession was genuine, he should have
been deprived if his liberty for the rest
of his natural life. If the taking of
human life by legal process were
ever justifable it would seem to be in
this case-when guilt had been clearly
established But without the form of
a legal trial, upon hearsay that he had
made confession which no party to
this second murder had ever seen or
heard, he was hanged to the limb of q
tree while protesting his innocense.
Yet this same newspaper that made
martyrs of the Anarchists and called
their execution a murder and an out
rage, approves the Vernon county
|lYnching, says "Grandstaff was treated
just as he ought to be- that ''The
neighbors and acquaintance of the
innocent dead are the proper persons to
avenge their foul MURDER" "to do
away with the brutal murderer;" that
the people should not be taxed in mind
labor and money to give a man
judicial trial when the judgement of
mankind is that he is guilty.
Not only is the lynching justified by
this paper, but the HERALD is criticised
for its expression of disapproval.
Therefore, while we have neither the
time nor the disposition to enter into
any controversy, we reiterate our dis
approval of lynching in general, and of
this one in particular. We do not
claim that the murder of the aged peo-
pie and young children, and that of the
Chicago policemen were parallel cases,
but the disapproval. of the legal execu-
ton of those proved to be responsible
for the one and the approval of the
hanging, without trial, of the one
supposed to have committed the other
are. we think, subject to criticism. The
HERALD desires to go on record as OPP
posed to anarchy and mob law.
The impression left on the minds of
the people of Madison by President
Cleveland visit does not seem to have
been such as to arouse enthusiasm to a
particularly high pitch on hearing of
MS denomination. The grand reception
to the St Louis delegates on their return
fell flat and the ratification meeting
'lc.l Wednesday evening was dreary
and l;f~less The people of Wisconsin's
capital have seen President Cleveland.
With much fatigue and perspiration,
Democrat and Republican together saw
the nations ruler only last fall They
all heard him tell them about the lakes
and the fine farming lands of Wiscon-
sin. Why is he not remembered with
gratitude for having said those things?
The only time anyone got up energy
enough to cheer was when the bandana
was mentioned. When Burr Jones was
growing eloquent over the virtues of
Cleveland and Thurman a voice from
the crowd asked whats the matter
with JEFF Davis?" That's what we
would like to know, if age is what
the party wants in its leader. He is
older than the old Roman by several
years.
The Century has printed several
articles Of timely interest to students of
the international Sunday school Lessons.
The July number is to have another of
these papers, written by Mr.. Edward
L. Wilson, and illustrated with engrav-
ings made from his photographs. 1t
will flncO,.fbo in,,r,,a,- f,.o,,, 4l,o u al Coo