Brenham weekly banner. [volume] (Brenham, Tex.) 1877-1907, 1891-11-05
THE MOB MIST GO.

GOV. hoSS mas expressed MS III
tendon in no uncertain terms his ev-
ident purpose to pursue as unrelent-
ingly as he does other violations,
mobocracy, and if possible break up
lynehing in the State. He offers
$1,000 reward for the arrest and
conviction of each of the leaders,
and $500 for each of the partici-
pants in the burning of Lee Green
at Linden on the 18th. Continuing
he says: IF this is not enough to
stimulate the detection, arrest and
conviction of those criminals, OF if
you find any obstruction in your
way to the full performance of your
duties in the premises, please so IN
form me, that all needful measures
may be taken within my power to
maintain the dignity of the constitu-
ton and laws. Every citizen charged
with felony III this State is guar
anteed by the constitution speedy
public trial before an impartial jury;
the right to demand the nature and
cause of the accusation against him
and to have copy thereof, the priv
llege of being heard by himself Of
counsel or by both: to be confront
ed with the witnesses against him ::
to have compulsory process for OBJ
tanning witnesses to his favor that
he shall not be held to answer for
the offense unless on Indictment of a
grand jury: and that cruel or unus-
ual punishment shall not be inflicted
on him.
The prisoner was denied each and
all of these sacred rights, so solemn
ly pledged to him, for, while in the
custody of the law, in jail, he was
taken by mob, burned at stake
and murdered. If he was guilty or
the foulest murder each member of
the mob is none the less guilty of a
like offense. The crime is deepened
by the insult for the constitution
and the shame reflected by the afro
cious, barbarous act on the name of
their county and State. If he was
guilty the mobs action is an indig-
nifty to and reflection on every law
abiding juror and official in Cass
county, for it proclaims to the world
that they would not enforce the
law. If he was innocent, then the
mob has committed a crime so often
inflicted on the weak by the blood
thirsty, brutal strong. No citizen
who loves own life or appreciates
his State can have any respect for
murderer. His contempt must in
tensify when he sees the mob re-
turn from lifeless victim, whose
blood has been shed while a shackled
prisoner.
There is no room for mobs in
Texas and they must cease their
criminal raids if any virtue ciings to
established government. They are
a menace to the life and liberty of
unprotected citizen. They are enc
mics to the bill of rights They are
incubators and propagators of
crime, visiting vengeance on the de-
fenseless, often the innocent, strik-
ing down the bulwarks of liberty
and laying waste to civilization.
In these days of organized society
their fiendish work is without ex-
cuse and can not be tolerated. The
prevalence of mobocracy means the
subversion of law and order. The
two cannot remain IN harmony. As
a rule the men who Join mobs
against the helpless to take their
lives stand ready to serve OIL the
jury to acquit influential criminals
and to pirate about the miscarriage
of justice. It is time some of them
were being brought to trial for
their crimes before honest juries. Il
hope you will do your part in this
case, as I shall cheerfully perform
mine in it and all others of like
brutality and disregard our consti-
tuition and laws.