The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-05-05

Wyoming with connivance with the
lynching party, for the governor refused
TO order cut the militia to assist the
people Of johnson county in protecting
their lives and property, when asked by
Sheriff Angus After the lynehing party
had murdered two ranchmen the whole
population Of Johnson county rose up
against the invaders. and then the con-
temptible governor, because his particular
scoundrels and outlaws we're in danger,
begged the president TO rescue them from
"she rustIers " and their friends
a number of the Wyoming militia on
GERS have resigned because the course OF
the governor reflected contempt upon the
militia Of the state and Sheriff An
gus, of Johnson county, when ne gave up
the besieged iynching party Of eattlemsn to
the United States troops, said: They
have murdered and burned and defied the
Law and j. was my duty TO arrest them
They were mine ! had them in my
grasp and they were taken from me"
The governor of Wyoming refused the
sheriff the assistance of the militia TO re-
store order and then when the lynchers
had the worst of it asked the federal
government 10 interpose in their behalf.
Whether the murdered ranchmen OF
johnson county we're ''rustlers" or not is
question for the courts of Wyoming to
determine. and no party Of cattlemen,
however rich they may be, have any busi-
ness 10 turn outlaws in order TO murder
people whom they have irresponsibiy de-
cided TO be outlaws. Wyoming is
sovereign state; she has a gov
ernor, organized courts and
militia and the hired desperadoes of
few wealthy castIemen are not the state
or the courts or the hangrnan of Wyoming
70 hunt down and murder at their own
sweet will such persons as they believe 10
be outlaws. The Holy vehme of the Md
die Ages, or the Sieilian Maia is not the
kind of government tina. the state of
Wyoming can afford to tolerate.
II there are cattle thieves in Wyoming
let them be arrested and tried just as other
states arrest and try horse thieves; il
Wyoming has not militia enough let her
equip and support larger number, but
the spectacle of a party of lynchers being
allowed to work their will without in
reference on part Of the governor until
the lyncher is in danger Of being Iynched,
Is disgrace 10 American civilization 1t
all grows out OF this growing irreverence
and contempt for law; this selfish indif-
ference of decent lsw-abiding citizens to
mob Law. except when the mob selects
them for its victims.
Every state should have an adequate
force of militia, which should be properly
supported, and then the people should
elect governor who has sufficient moral
sense to appreciate his duty and sufficient
moral courage 10 execute il A more
shameful spectacle has not been seen re-
Gently, save in the case of Governor b.
chanan of Tennessee, last year. than that of
the governor of Wyoming refusing to sup
port the sheriff of q county with the mill
tia 10 repel a lynching party of wealthy
cattlemen, and then appealing to the Fed
eral government for troops when he feared
that the sheriff and his posse were likely
to capture the iynchers in spite of his re-
fusal to call out the militia.
1t il of no sort of consequence whether
the ranchmen lynched by the invading
outlaws were guilty or innocent; the vital
question 10 whether the sovereign state of
Wyoming stands for organized human So
ciety and civilization. speaking through its
courts and constables, or whether il is a
community where the right to life, liberty
and prosperity can be outraged at will by
irresponsible regulators" white caps
or what not.
Under any other name the damnable
court of Judge Lynch smells Just as sweet
The question before the state is whether
its people are capable Of self-government
through organized society or not? If they
are, let them go to work and create a state,
not inaugurate an anarchy. 1t Is dam
nabie state of society where the largest mob
is the best fellow; where laws and courts
are whistled down the wind, and the fell
low who is the ''handiest with his gum
and 'has the most friends" obtains and
holds possession of the most rights. We
might as well all go back to Jedburgh JUS
tice. where the zone altogether lovely.
chief among ten thousand" was the
strong man who could take by main
strength and who could keep by main
strength all he had taken.
state where the only warrant neces-
sary 10 execute an accused man is the ir-
responsible will and posse of grisly Judge
Lynch IS state only lit to be given over
To the occupation of the land pirates and
Kilkenny cats of civilization.