New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-03-18
nv nnLY EPIDEMIC.

No careful reader of the newspapers can nave
failed to notice that the peculiar form Oh mop
o,,traees committed by disguised men auop"ns
tho generic name of "White Caps mas lor
several months been extending, until now Vnere
10 evidence for the existence of these is"ieSs
oroon;zations in at least half dozen States'
The nretext used by these crimnals-for tnat
10 what they are-is always the same thai Is,
they take upon themselves the iunc'iohs VI
" regulators they have in charge the nOrais
of the regions they infest; they not only super
sede the constituted authorities, but tney ario-
gate Jurisdiction over matters entirely ou.S,ue
the proyince of legislation. Riding by nignt
masl,ed and armed, they surround lsoiaeed
forro and other houses, drag out the inmates'
both man and women, and often fog both sexes
brutally and cruelty, and with cowardiy
forocity and defiance of decency that give the
liz fatty TO their pretence OF concern 1or 1ne
pnblic morals. The outrages perpetrated In
this way have become in some States so huilier-
obs as to constitute serious indictment Oh the
communities that tolerate them, and standing
disorace 10 the officials who are charged WIN
tbe maintenance Of law and order and the pro
lection OF law-abiding citizens from male
factors and there can be no question tna1 inc
peculiar lawlessness referred to threatens 10
discredit the country abroad as we'll as at nome.
The most disturbing feature Of 1t is the spirit
which underlieS and prompts it. 1t is lmpos-
sible 10 believe that where White Capism
springs I'D there can be that rooted and inteih-
gent apprehension Of the principles OF free
government which every American ought to
possess as a birthright; nor could these OUT
RACES be endured with the strange apathy too
commonly observed in such cases, were even
those who disapproYe but do not repress them
alive either to their privileges or their duties
as citizens. But reprehensible as White Cap
ming is. II would be a mistake TO conclude too
hastily that the practice is explained by an
ebullition of lawlessneSs. In some Ut It's re-
spects indeed it resembles certain phases OF the
old Puritanism. The disposition to NEEDLE
with the private affairs OF neighbours to regard
such venial and indirect offences IA idleness
a. warrantng community interference the
attempt TO purge neighborhOods OF immoral
persons, cannot but recall the practices which
at one time in New England had the solemn
sanction of that Church which controlled and
inspired the secular government. Here how
ever, there Is no dependence upon religious
sanction. The rude action OF the White Caps
Is referred simply to crude moral code aiiili-
ated rather with savagery than civilization.
Certainly this kind of lawlessness must not
be regarded as of little Importance. II is, what
ever else it may be, most clearly an indication
of widespread ignorance Of all that the Ameri-
oan citizen ought to know as no knows the
most essential matters OF fact. When in the
frontier Territories, Vigilance Committees are
organized for the suppression Of crime which
the authorities arc too weak TO deal with,
really wholesome ferment may be traced in the
movement But the White Caps are distinct
turning back Of the crude frontier makeshift
methods upon older and long settled COM
munitieS, and they arc disturbing because they
reveal, when least IL should have been antici-
pated, views Of democracy and OF social obliga-
tons and responsibilities, such as the most UNI
informed recent immigrants from the darkest
regions of Europe might entertain. In these
cases II cannot be pretended that any failure
of the administrative machinery has pre-
coded and stimulated the mob action; for most
| of the alleged offences punished by the White
Caps are not recognized as offences by any
American statute. There Is in truth seed Of
| Anarchy in this ugly epidemic of White Cap
| ism, and it must not only be stamped out Wig
| orously and effectually, but its resurrection at
any future time must be made impossible by
the diffusion OF fuller and sounder knowledge
| as to the rights and duties of citizenship.