Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1893-02-08
The Subject Of Gubernatorial
Message.
THE PARIS AFFAIR A TEXT.
A Severe Indictment Drawn Against
People Of Paris,
The Governor Asks for Extraordinary Leosla.
lion and Promises 10 Punish Lynchers
or Stand Himself a Criminal Be.
fore the World.

Austin, Tex, Feb Special In.
spired by the circumstances and conditions
brought into being by the recent lynch.
ing in Paris, Governor Hogg today sent
to the legislature message which will
be read with interest throughout the
civilized world, and especially will It be
received with close attention at Paris.
Herewith is given the message ia full.
Executive Office.
Austin. Tex, Feb. G. 1893.
'ntlemen Of the Senate and House Of
-os. 1t becomes my pain
ties T. Saas, to you the ncces-
sit' -, history BPS to prevent mob
violence in The recent terrible
holocaust at Paris is but an illustration
to what extent the mob spirit win 40
when the laws are inadequate to chec,
it, While the victim Of that afruir was
guilty Of an atrocious. barbarous crime,
appalling to contemplate, for which he
was certain of full punishment under the
constitution and laws of our state, civli-
cation stands as a helpless witness to the
most revolving execution of the age, in
which large numbers Of citizens openly,
in broad day, publicly became murderers
by methods shameful to humanity.
Brushing away sentiment, which should
never accompany punishment for crime,
the public murder committed at Paris
is u disgrace to this state Its atrocity.
inhumauity and sickoning effect upon the
people at large cannot be obscurcd by
reference TO the savage act OF the culprit
himself in brutally taking the life Of
mn innocent child For his deed the
death penalty ownited him under the law.
The imputation that he could not have
been legally executed in any court in
this state is SANDER upon the integrity
Of every citizen TO contend that his
eNecutioncrs, who publicly murdered him,
can either bc indicted or tried in the
county where thar crime was committed
is pretcnse and mockery. So the
condition exists in our state that while
one man may bc convicted for murder,
hundred men who publicly commit muir
der cannot be. The laws, therefore, with
out further legislation, may be held in
defiance in any community where the
forces are strong enough 10 oyerawc the
local officers, and set aside the legal
machinery Of justice. Our constitution
is not 80 hide-bound that this condition
must continue II Is in the power Of the
legislature to adopt suitable measures q
either prevent mob law, or to bring to pun
ishment all murderous execuuoners. M
combination of men should ever be SC
strong in any government as TO success
fully override the law, They should
never be so numerous as TO make il
impossible to bring them to trial foI
their crimes in the proper court.
The constitution provides that in al
criminal prosecutions for felony the ac
cused shall have speedy public trial b,
an impartial jury on indictment duly
found; that he shall have the right e
t demand the nature and cause of the &C
cusation against him, and have a copy
, thereof: that ho shall not be compelled
e 10 give evidence against himself; tina
+ he shall have the right Of being hear'
! 10y counsel, that he shall be confronted
by the witnesses against him, and shal
have compulsory process for obtaining
witnesses in his favor; and that no crue
or unusual punishment shall be inflicted
. ON any citizen Of this state for crime
Mobocracy oyerridcs all these guaron
tees. 1t was done in this Paris case
1t has been done in many others wher
I the victims were innocent Of crime, )
e II bids fair to continue. The question pre-
}. sents itself: Are the people willing t
/. submit to this? If they are, they shoul
a have the courage, the manhood, the in
+ tice and the patriotism to repeal the bi
d Of rights, and permit each local con
y munity 10 summarily dispose OF all rel
a or supposed offenders.
This late execution at Paris Is mol u
a only one that has been performed by
IA mob in that county within the past twel'
months: for within that period thr'
II other men were hanged 10 death in ina
- neighborhood. who had committed
,e crimes. Their presence in the commu
le ity was offensive or perhaps menadu
I, to the pleasure and equanimity OF u
baud of murderers who took their i've
There have been other instances ~ u
state where innocent men have been
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