New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-06-10
HORN FOE ANTHROPOLOGISTS.


1t could be wished that some of the gentle
men who devote themselves to the study of
anthropoogy and of whom SO many lately
assembled here to exchange views would un
deralle the investigation of some of those
peculiar outbreaks which from time to time
lend picturesqueness, if not peace and order,
to the progress Of society in various States
Of the Union. Just now the vagaries of an
Indiana organization called the White Caps,
are attracting general attention and making
life full of excitement for the weaker brethren
in the localities where they operate. The
White Caps evidently proceed upon some
theory of social ethics evoked by themselves,
but what it is and how they attained to it are
questions for the anthropologists to find out.
These strange people have taken it into their
heads that it is their duty to see that their
neighbors lead industrious, temperate and moral
lives and in order TO bring this about, they
visit wroDgdOers and suspected persons by
night in armed and disguised bands and adj
minister physical chastsement, without much
regard to age, SEX or previous condition. Some
times they so brighten or iniure their victims
that the latter fly the district. Sometimes
they kill people outright. Always their pro-
ceedings are characterized by large contempt
for the law
In another State similar organization. called
the Bald Knobbers not long ago gravitated
to open criminality, and passed by easy stages
from lawleSs regulation" to brigandage and
murder, and at last it became necessary to
root them out by the strong hand and to
hang the worst Of them. Now, it is not only
interesting, but important TO know how and
why such organizations come into existence
The causes which produced the Vigilance So
cieties Of the far Western States and Territories
are not in operation in Indiana so far as is
known. There Is no pretence that the laws
cannot be administered in the region whore
the White Caps operate. They SEEM in fact.
to have organized for the treatment OF social
offences which the law does not recognize rs
criminal, and this appears to argue tenderness
Of conscience transcending that of society nj
large. But such acute sensibility is usually
found to exist only in connection with some
phase Of religious authority for their action.
Regarded from without, what they are doing
seems to be to exercise sort of mob tyranny.
They Judge, condemn and punish for offences
not recognized by the law, and in furnishing
they exhibit a cruelty and barbarity not n,
al CdCuldbtu W pIbuutc tHt impression that
they themselves occupy higher moral plane
than their victims.
IL is TO be presumed that some kind of
public sentiment was behind them originally.
if it did not continue with them; but surely
it must be a curously unenlightened sentiment
that could anticipate good results CT indeed
any ether than evil results, from methods
which are neither more nor less than reycr-
sions to barbarsm and almost TO sayaeefv.
The White Caps do not probably know it. but
what they are practising is really Anarchy.
They 90 upon the principle that anybody NAV
do what he has the physical power to do. A
dozen men by uniting can dictate to village
The way that village shall live, and if it dis
obeys orders, can fog or mutilate the rebels.
But this is not civilization, nor does il
even tend TO civilization. IL tends precisely |
in the opposite direction. The more the sub |
iect is pondered consequently, the more diff |
cult does it become to understand how any |
of American citizens could have |
lrif cd into such "a chaotic condition. Raid |
knobbers and White Caps are not progressive |
Dut reversonary phenomena. They lead to |
Inc rear instead of to the front. The kind |
IF order after which they seek is that which |
reigned in Warsaw when all the Poles who had |
been fighting for liberty had been put down
)y Russian bayonets and their leaders executed. |