Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-05-07
MOBOCRACY.
The st. Louis Republic and Post Dispatch
Take Issue with the New Orleans Grand
Jury and Publish Criticisms.

ST. LOUIS, Mo. May 6.-The st. Louis
Post-Dispatch says: 'The report of the
New Orleans grand jury, charged with the
investigation Of the lyuching Of eleven
Italians in that city, shows in every
way that the grand jurors took up their
task with the antecedent determination to
justify the lynching, and prominent and
law abiding citizens who openly boast that
| they organized the mob and led it to its
work OF death. The lynchers themselves
| could not have written q more earnest and
labored defense of their slaughter of eleven
men, as most praiseworthy public service
| rendered necessary by the failure of the
trial jury to convict smaller number in
dicted, tried and acquitted
| Under the caption, Wanted, Juries to
| Convict the Republic says: The report
of the New Orleans grand jury is very
| skillful defence of mobocracy. based on the
| assumption that the mob was composed
OF the people of New Orleans in their
| entirety and that it represented the su-
preme authority charged with the response
biblity of administering justice against the
law whenever, in its judgment, Justice IN
der law is not satisfactory.
This makes the mob absolutely irrespon-
siole of the supreme tribunal, combining in
itself all the functions Of the legislature,
Judiciary and executive.
II this doctrine of irresponsibility
applies to one mob it applies to
another. Whatever justifes the New Or
leans mob justities the mob of Haymarket.
We are resisting and Will continue to resist
the attempt of Italy to dictate the course Of
American justice, but we gain nothing, we
lose everything, if after maintaining this
we give the courts over to a review of mobs
and their accomplices.
sINGNLAR COINCIDENCE.
CHICAGO, ILL, May 6.-The Daily News
Independently says:
1t is rather singular coincidence that
the New Orleans grand jury report became
public property on the same day on which
it became known that Signor Rudini Italy's
prime minister, had the parliamentary
association Tor the promotion of interna-
tlonal arbitration and peace. Arbitration
VIII afford an opportunity to the
United States to prove to the Eu-
ropean governments that the re-
sponsibility for the New Orleans
tragedy and for many other bloody conflicts
between outraged American citizens and
alien foreigners transferred to American
soil rests primarily with with the En-
ropean government.
PARKINSON AMENABLE.
The Inter Ocean, Republican, says:
"Clearly these men were not living in the
peace Of the United States" as the legal
Is not subject for complaint by foreign
power. But why did not the jury call upon
Parkinson, who claims that the meeting
was called by himself and committe
of 100 for the special purpose
Of taking the law into their
own hands. In the state of Illinois Parkin-
son would be held responsible for the work
of the mob. because he melted it into the vi
olent lawlessness which followed.
AS THE TIMEs-DEMoCRAT SEES IT.
The 1lmes-Democrat says: Il avails
nothing to deny the conclusions reached by
the New Orleans Grand jury in the cases Of
the murderers who killed the assassins.
The members of the jury seem to
have given too broad meaning to the
statement of Burke that You cannot
ndict whole people, but there remains
the fact that the conclusion they arrived
at, while logical, the result of the conditions
of existing things is disgrace to the state
and nation.
LAW AND ORDER.
LOUISVILLE, KY, May 6.-The Courier
Journal says:
The serious issue in the whole matter lies,
not between Amdrica and Italy, but be-
tween law and crime. AS it is
in New Orleans so it is to
a great extent all over the country
If the degradation Of the instruments of
law were like yellow fever, merely local
manifestations limited by lines and lati-
tude, it would be far less serious
than it is in New Orleans. Fifteen
hundred criminals seek refuge here be-
cause they constitute a privileged class.
Can we not destroy these privileges under
the law. Destroyed they must be, or So |
ciety will resolve itself into its original ele-
mentS.
WAS A NECESSITY.
The Denver. (Colo.) Republican says:
After searching investigation occupying |
several weeks, the grand jury at New |
Orleans came to the conclusion that |
the mob which summarily executed |
Of the Malta in the county iail |
deserved commentator rather than |
rensure, and decline to find any in
iictment, although the indemnity of persons
who led the movement was well known.
The general opinion in New Orleans is that
the action of the mob was not only
iustifiable but q necessary, in order
to check the spirit of assassination
lmong Siclian residents of that city, and
hat view is probably correct. 1t is not
likely that similar action will be needed
H., ~ <,,&-