The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1891-03-31

Pulpit Review of Current Events by Rev; Thos.
Dixon, Jr., for Sunday, March z, 1891.
THE SHOTGUN IN NEW oRLEANs-THE
PHILOSOPHY OF THE o
Rev. Thomas Dixon, Jr., pastor of
the Twenty-third street Baptist church,
preceded his sermon on '"The Ideal
City" this morning, at Association
Hall, by the following review of cur
rent events:
The news from New Orleans is hor-
rible. It is sad reading. 1t makes
the soul sick. Eleven shrieking vic
Tins shot to pieces in the Parish Jail by
an Infatuated pOpulace.
Again we are reminded that the city
is the storm centre of our civilization.
A few years ago the streets of Cincin-
natl were converted into battle trenches.
The criminal element of that same
city, to-day, r openly proclaiming
their defiance of law and order and en-
acting repetition of those scenes.
A few years ago the city of Chicago
was startled by the explosion of dyna-
mite bombs in Haymarket Square,
thrown by the organized criminals of
the community. Chicago responded
to that bomb in much the same man
ner as the populace of New Orleans did
to the murder of their Chief of Police.
The only differences was, Chicago used
the gaIlOws and the forms of law to
execute the indignant Judgment of the
people. while the hOt-headed South
erner, failing to accomplish the result
by a similar means, seized the shotgun
and did without form and ceremony
what a corrupt and venal tribunal
failed to do. No impartial student of
the great anarchist trial can believe
that trial was anything but a farce.
The people of Chicago had determined
to execute the leaders of that band of
organized crime. They did it. The
jury simply registered the indignant
Judgment of the people-they never
could have convicted the men on the
evidence presented. But if the jury
had failed to convict, it is perfectly
safe to say the pOpulace would have
executed their Judgment as New Or
leans did.
In view of such facts, this New Or
leans business is a terrible affair. 1t is
the sure index of a dangerous disease
with which we are afflicted. Here is
food for thought for every true Ameri-
can citizen. What are some of the
lessons taught us in this tragedy
1. That mob justice is brutal, devil
ish and horrible to every instinct of
civilization. If there be such a thing
as "a respectable mob" that was sure
lly one. 1t was the highest order of
lynch judgment. Yet with all it's dis
cipline, it's list of business men, and
good citizens, it was a disgusting, sick
ening spectacle, that makes the noblest
instincts of humanity cry aloud in in
d1gnant, fearful protest. To see thou
sands of armed men crowd eleven help
less, cringing, cowardly assassins into
a corner, and while they shrieked and
hoWled In terror, shoot them to pieces
well, we cannot be proud of such
deeds. No logic can defend them.
They are unjustifiable.
2. And yet, looking the whole case
squarely in the face, the result was in
evitable. The p~rovocation was terri
BILE. 1t must be confessed that the
provocation was deeper in it's damna-
ton than the fearful catastrophe it
provoked. Think for a moment of the
situation. The city had been terrorized
for years by an organized band of
highway robbers and murderers. They
defed the law. They deied the powers
OF God and man. They were the off