The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-09-23
THE TRAGEDY AT ROANOKE.

From the BaEimorc Sun.
1t is difficult in this latitude to discuss
calmly and dispassionateiy the uniortu'
nate outbreak of popular feeling that
mas been followed by such terrible re-
suits at Roanoke, Va. Maryland is q
Southern State and naturally sympa-
thi1es with the South in all that effects
that section either for veal or woe, and
Virginia is especially close to her heart
by reason Of thousand historical ties
and the stronger bonds Of family con-
nections, personal friendship and gen.
eral sentiment. Marylanders, there
fore, feel almost as keeuly as If it were
their own case the grief and mourning
that have como upon their Virginia
friends at Roanoke. and the Sun, as
their chief newspaper representative of
Maryland, would be false to the senti-
ment OF the State, as we'll as to its own
sympathies, did it hesitate to give eX-
preston to this feeling. 1t woald, how.
ever, fall short OF the duty which it
owes to law and order in general, and to
the true interests of Virginia and the
South in particular, did it fail to dwell
upon the lesson that is taught by this
tragedy.
While public grief and indignation
are still fresh it may be impossible to
persuade the people of Roanoke that
they have been guilty Of a wrong to
themselves and to the cause of justice
by their resort to lynch law. But when
they have come to themselves and Are
able to review the affair with less
prejudice they will probably see it in
another light. Why should not people
take the law in their own hands in clear
cases like that at Roanoke? For sew raj
reasons. In the first place, they should
not do it because q resort to mob law is
a blow at the interests of every indi
vidual citizen, as well as at those OF the
whole community. Civilization depends
largely upon the observance of the i'm.
piled agreement to leave the righting of
individual wrongs to certain specified
tribunals. The clearer the guilt of the
offender and the more probable his pun
ishment the less reason is there for
popular action.
The example of disorder is contagious,
and even where it is founded outright
eous motives it is apt to lead to others
which are not justifiable. Lynch law is
to be condemned therefore, even when
the criminal deserves his fate, because
it is violation of the conventions on
which civilized society rests, and estab
fishes dangerous precedent that may
lead to outrages and consequence
worse than the offenses which it is in.
tended to punish. Violence begets
violence, and popular passion may
easily be converted into the instrumen
tally OF private or factional vengeance.
Lynch law, however, is not only a
crime against society, but it is peril
Gus method of punishment, and involves
serious dangers not only to those who
undertake to apply it, but to non
participants as we'll. The experience at
Roanoke shows that it may cost far
more than it accomplishes, by the need
less sacrifice of worthy and valuable
citizens. Here are nine men killed and
score or more wounded to punish an
unspeakable brute whose life was not
worth that of an honest dog, and who
could not have escaped the hand of JUS
Jice If its regular tribunals had been
left to do their work. An investment
OF nine precious lives for single worth
less one is heavy price to pay, even
for the qualification of quickly Kidding
the world of such creature.
But this is not all that lynch law costs
or all that 1t involves. One of its results
is to create bitter feeling, if not actual
enmity, among those who have hereto
fore been neighbors and friends, and
possibly to SOW the seeds of future feuds
and outbreaks. We do not believe that
this will be the case at Roanoke, where,
no doubt, when the first excitement has
worn off, even those who have suffered
most will be disposed to take more
conservative view of the subject than
they do at present. But that this is the
natural effect OF such disorders cannot
be denied, and it furnishes another and
potent argument against the appeal
to popu ar intervention.
There is another reason WHY the
Southern people especially should re-
strain themselves in such cases There
is still an army OF critics at the North
who delight to misrepresent the South
and pick flaws in Southern character.
They use every act of disorder in tho
Southern States as text for sermon
upon the maltreatment of the colored
race in that section, and the inherent.
depravity of Southern white people.
Their opinions may not be worth re-
garding, but the South should not
furnish them With material for such
homllies. AS matter of fact, if these
Northern moralists lived in the South
they would notdisplaY half the patience
and forbearance that the Southern peo-
pie have shown toward the fiendish acts
from which they have repeatedly suf-
Tered. The Puritans were never pa
tient or tolerant class, and were the
descendants Of the stern and merciless
slaYers of kings and destroyers of
witches confronted by tho same condi.
tions which the Southern people have
to face, it is not in harmony with their
history to suppose that tn sY would show
equal moderation and self control.
The Southern people, however, for
their own sakes, as we'll as from regard
for that orderly administration of Jus.