Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1891-03-26
EDIF0RIHh.
rhe New Orleans Affair.

New Urledle "
...,,y - thoroughly discussed during the
I, week in the papers of this country
pnrone There has been much
H. justification and much IN con-
,,mnation. Perhaps no one is entitled d
l.rm a definite opinion without a bet
understanding Of the situation than
,ow have. The men killed were
Italians who had become naturallzed
,i,oos. so that the Italian government
which promptly took offence has no
..,nnd Of complaint. 1t seems that
,b.r belonged to a secret order whose
;.fhusipess it was to kill people they
Il Dot like. The chief of police OF the
!. wos killed by members of this Or
The parties most closely impli-
..a IN the affair were arrested and
.,i.a The guilt of some was quite
A., IN tbe case of others it was not
mite 50 evident. The jury, however,
sasl to convict. The people of the
II we're intensely interested in the
/ mall They must have known a good
IA obout the nature of the evidence
,sainst the parties on trial. The YER
ia created surprise and indignation.
!, ,bo ease Of six of the eleven there
"a. no doubt in the public mind as to
their cuilt in comprising the death OF
Chief Heunessy. As to the others the
proof may not have been quite SO clear
,pd vet they were all grouped in the
popular mind as part of the gang OF as
a.,inators. To the people justice
,ssmed to have failed to carry. There
seemed only one thing to do, and that
was to carry out the law independent
ofiudge or jury. 1t seemed clear that
there had been tampering with the
iury. Since the shooting it has trans
Dired that members of the jury were IN
undated and bribed. No doubt the
peoDle had some suspicion of this. In
hs view of the case their indignation
grew intense. They came together IN
4 public place under the light OF day.
and a. the instigation of two or three
leaders they were ready for any move
nen.. and the movement was upon the
parish prison which they soon entered
and without Judge or jury, shot and
hung the obnoxious prisoners. Inc
mob appears to have been composed IN
bulk of average citizens, usually law
abiding, merchants and mechanics leu
By LAWYER, with, of course, falr a
mount Of the riff-raff of the city hang
ing on the outskirts. 1t represented
IN its make up and in its sentiments as
near as we can Judge, the people OF the
|eity of New Orleans. The question is,
|dd the mob do right? Such events are
|iudged by what follows. One OF the
London papers remarked that the AM
sTican people were the most patient ana
the most impatient people in the world
They put up with great wrongs Tor
bng time and when they can no longer
endure them they rouse up and strike a
heavy blow without being too careful
where it falls. In her police admins
ration New Orleans is not city to be
commended tor wisdom and justice. 1t
nay have been high time for a lesson.
1t plain that the people thought SO.
There are some wrongs that cannot be
nghted except by violence. Ihlsls the
FAULT Of human nature that will not MS
ien to reason. The existence of a Sc
c'et society Of assassins IN any city Is
menace to good order and even the
safety Of the citizens. Such an organ
ilailon is not easily broken up by the
Machinery of law. The law must De
g aside and more violent remedy a
0opted 1t may be said that the inno-
cent as well as the guilty suffer. IhIs
I true in all warfare, aud mob law IS
. 1nd Of irregular warfare upon evils
mat the law proves incompetent to deal
With. We regret such acts as this IN
new Orleans. We regret still more
'ae occasion furnished for such acts.
ana What Is to be deplored most OF all
!. such negligence on the part of law
ae'ding citizens as to furnish the occa-
SION Tor sueb IN oAa,r Tt MIGHT not