The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-03-18
The New Orleans Massacre.

In their more sober moments the lead
ing citizens" of New Orleans who, on Sat
urday, shot down like dogs eleven defense
less human beings will probably be as
much ashamed of themselves as the law.
abiding people of America are ashamed
OF them and ashamed of the city which
seems to applaud such murderous out
lawry.
Were the casual reader to peruse the
story of that terrible butchery without
taking note of the date line be would
imagine that he was reading the account
OF some Dahomeyan Orgie or Apache raid
and not the deliberate action OF sup
posedly civilized people, led on to this
feast of blood by the political and social
heads of the community. The walls of
that parish Jail, if they could speak, could
tell a tale whose very narration would
cause the massive piles of stone that stand
between dread Siberia's victims and future
hope to shrink and groan with horror and
the Shiny barriers of Calcutta's Back Hole
to turn moro Hvid green of fendish
envy.
So black a crime nowhere marks the
page of history, and its very commission
Is the strongest proof OF the existence OF
that low state OF public morals which the
leaders of the mob so SIMULTANEOUSLY
deplored while whetting the public appe-
tite for its feast OF blood.
That there was a failure of justice in the
trial OF these Sicilians there seems little
doubt, but this TACT in no way iustifies the
brutal slaughter of Saturday. These men
had been tried before judge elected by
this mob; in court maintained by this
mob; surrounded by an atmosphere made
hostile by the breath of this mob; prose
cuted by men employed by this mob. If
there was a miscarriage of justice it was
not the fault of the men on trial, but of
the Judge and the court and the prose-
cutors; in fact, the system which this
mob has permitted to grow up and be-
come established. On it this vengeance
should have been wreaked.
The effect of this new lawlessness can
but be baneful in the highest degree. To
the lawless class-and we can but believe
that, in spite of the eminent re-
spectability(?) of the leaders, the majority
of that bloodthirsty mob was of this
class-.he events of Saturday can but
prove alicense to all manner of outlawry.
For the very class which it was sought to in
timidate-to teach wholesome lessor" p
it will seem a note of warning, a notlfica-
ton that they must henceforth, right or
wrong, rely upon their own resources for
self-protection. To their minds it will APP
pear that the protection of the law is but
an idle phrase, trials but farce and
courts but the ante-room to the slaughter
pen, and with desperation they will clasp
their murderous dirks the tighter and
place heavier charge in their biunder-
buses.
The disgrace OF the mistrial
of the Malta might have been
outlived; the prevention OF future
miscarriages of justice might have
been secured through revision of the
judicial system; but the stain of the blood
shed on Saturday can never be washed
away, and the contempt for law inspired
by that massacre cannot be eradicated in
generations from the minds of that danger
Gus class which seeks but pretense for
swapping its fingers at constituted
authority.
The press of New Orleans, which makes
haste to condone the offense of Saturdays
mob, cannot be held too largely respon-
sible for this great crime. 1t has, by its
silence, allowed the corruption of its courts
to grow until its fruit has been borne; it
has seen courts created, bought and sold
by that great law breaker, the Louisiana
lottery. and held its peace. 1t has foreseen
the legitimate outcome of this judicial
qualification, but never raised its voice in
protest, and now that its city is disgraced
and dishonored it can do naught but offer
a feeble defense for an act which its con-
science condemns.
Saturdays events, from every stand
point, are most deplorable. They lessen
respect for law in this country and de-
grade the United States in the eyes of all
civilized nations. The only reparation
New Orleans can make is to promptly re-
organize Its judicial system, mete out
prompt punishment to the leaders of the
mob, and by an upright future try to live
down the memory of her disgrace.