The record-union., 1893-03-27

found in way to hold Sheriffs to re-
sponsibility for prisoners in charge.
Another journal suggests State laws hold
ing counties responsible in heavy penal
ties for mob-raising. 1t suggested, also,
that whenever Sheriff permits a priso-
ner to be taken from him it shall be
the duty of the Governor to remove him
from office. Another suggestion is to
place every county out OF which mob
arises under martial law for one year at
the cost of the people most Immediately
Offending.
We look upon most of these as suggest
ing no remedy, Combined they might
be effective. Removal OF the Sheriff as a
penalty would not one whit influence
mob action, nor would the threat inspire
the officer courageous by nature with
more courage, or make the coward brave.
Sheriffs who cared to evade the penalty
would make just enough resistance to Sc
cure a show of having been overpow-
cred. Then, too, not more than half the
lynchings are cases of seizures from Sher-
IFS.
Money forfeitures only, visited upon
counties, would simply result in punish
ing the innocent along with the guilty.
1t is to be conceded, however, that such a
policy would tend to drive out and keep
out decent people from such counties, be-
cause of the liability of property to heavy
penalty taxation, and thus the rebellious
spirit might be stamped out.
Still, we doubt the effectiveness of the
remedy, because the mob spirit is bru-
tally reckless, wholly careless of results.
To establish a sort of martial law, if that
can be done, seems the better remedy.
1t means heavy cost visited upon all the
residents of the locality, so that mob-ln-
spired people cannot pursue their voca-
ton without great Inconvenience, and
such pocket punishment that self-interest
would finally assert ITSELF
The New Orleans Times Democrat con-
siders the subject at length, and declares
that there are entire parishes or counties in
Mississippi and Louisiana where White
caps and Regulators are wholly in con-
troll, and where the laws are suspended
and "lawlessness and disorder run things
to suit themselves" 1t adds that it is an
SIavarvduv Onnurraooa for honest ind nc
trious people to be killed or brutally
beaten and their homes destroyed. Life,
property and industry in those parishes
have no protection, values are declining
in consequence, and the parishes are be-
ing depopulated." Its remedy is to have
State authorities pursue, capture and
punish offenders; but this means a re-
construction of the organic law defining
jurisdiction for criminal trials. for in
their parishes the offenders are secure
from punishment.
Education and moral instruction do not
seem to even aid as correctives, for some
of the most outrageous manifestations of
mob spirit occur in communities where
religious teaching is common, and where
the people are fairly and literally culti-
vated, though Others occur where ignor-
and superstition dominate.
But it remains that great shame is
annually visited upon the American
name; that the character of the American
people is smirched by the statistics of
far from lessening, is actually augment
ing and becoming bolder. We are breed
ing more of Mffians, more of the law
less class, and preaching by object lessons
to the world that our systems Of State
Government are unequal to the main
tenance of the right of every man TO pro-
lection in life and property, and the right
to trial by law.
We cannot keep pace with civilization
and permit this growth of lawlessness;
we must as people down it, or submit
to classification among the semi-civilized.
Delayed justice. impeded courts, cor
rupted officials, have to do with the mat
ter we have considered: but these are as
nothing compared to the growth of the
appeal to passion and mob violence, not
only for punishment of criminals and
gross offenders against society, but
preached and advocated for the accom-
plishment of the ends of organizations
and parties. For it is undeniable that
the mob spirit is not only invoked and
apologized for, but crime of the most de-
testable order excused and justified
openly to-day, on the plea that great
supposed benefits will result and great
causes be we'll advanced thereby. =