The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1893-08-04
CHICKENS COME HOME TO noOsr.

laeC trtuAy we nnO the IOllOWluS'
There was a time when rape was
the only crime, except in rare in-
stances, for which the mob took the
punishment of the criminal out OF
the hands of the law. But 81 late
years mob violence has increased in
frequency, in brutality, and is exc
cuted for numbers Of other causes
than the one crime which, by COM
non consent, WAS considered ~
placing the criminal beyond the pale
of the law. 1t is inevitable that
when the class of men who consti-
tute the mob once feel that they are
free from tile restraint OF the law
they will abandon themselves to the
widest e&cesses and 10 every form OF
brutality and outrage; for every man
who knows anything Of mobs knows
that they are, rs rule, MADE up OF
the most depraved and vicious ele-
ments of society. That such men
really feel any repugnance Tor the
crime they undertake to punish il
not credible. The criminal lawyer
would not want better panel from
which TO pick jury to acquiC mur-
derer or thief than the rutiisns who
constitute the average mob. Their
real motive il sheer lust Of blood u
brutal terOcity that finds delight in
death and torture, and in everything
which to men OF human hearts woulU
be revolving and horrible. The aw-
full RIGHTEOUSNESS of mob violence
has gone to such extremes that il
Ia In 70, l.
and protest against IL and plead for II
better and more healthIul public
sentiment which will protect and up
mold the law before the public con-
science shall have become 70 de-
bauched and brutaliZed that all AIgu-
ment and appeal Will be in vain
That in the city OF Memphis, with itr
churches and s;honls, it's culture and
refinement, such ghaslly orgies and
sickeniUg atrocities AS those thai
marked the lynching of the negro
Lee Walker were possible is sume-
thing we should never have believed
had they not bean enacted. Aud
such scenes will be repeated again
and again with even worse circum-
stances OF horror If a determined
stand il not made against the reign
of the mob. There are in every COIN
munity number OF lawless and
savage men, ready at all times foT
deeds Of violence and only restrained
by fear of the law. TO these a lynch
ing is an opportunity to indulge their
cruel appetite for blood with i'm
punfty and even to cloak it with the
In in al ~ III oh
detestati0n OF crime! Think OF such
sentiments in connectiOn with the
born thugs and cutthroats who
laughed and sang and danced arOunu
the burning body Of Lee Walker
! ending devhish Joy IN scenes thai
would have sickened very dog
Let no mau imagine that he scene'
efthat night will not remain as. 8
black mark against Memphis fol
years to come aud that 1t will not bt
in every respect a calamity TO thiI
community. We need not flattel
ourselves that We are independent Of
the rest of the world, that we cal
afford to scorn tue good opinion of al
mankind, We are every day appeal
ing in some way for assistance iron
and are in some way dependent up II
people who have not lived among u
and who will judge US by such scenes
As that Of last Saturday, night. AL
ready the press and pulpit of Ed
gland are laundering at US and Mem
phis has already been held up by
them as an Illustration OF barbArisn
and savagery. Many of the stories
published by them are gross libels
but there il enough color OF truth t
make thsm terribly effective. Gu
fathers knew the value OF a "decen
TespecC for the opinions OF mankind,
which was the motive for the match
less document, the Declaration o
Independence. Nor can we afford I,
be Indifferent on this score. On,
such outrage rs that recently com
mitted here will defeat years Of unrt
uniting effort aud intelligent publi
spirit directed to the building up o
this community. Yet there is virtu
enough and sufficient respect for Law
among our prople if only it wer
active aud aggressive for the right
The omnipolence Of ruitianism is du
to the weakness aud tImldity of thos
who respect law aud order. Do the,
not feel that there is enough at stak
to demand that activity? Will the.
permit the continuance OF thi
terrible decentralization, this stead
debauchery Of the public conscience
this teaching of young boys to be cut
throats and ruffians, this awful black
ening Of our good name in every par
of the civilized world? We ma
accept it as q stern and rigid rule tina
no land can be prosperous and n
people happy where ruffianism j
stronger than the law AnG wher
criminals Csurp the functions of tn
courts"
This is very good doctrine, and tn
very same doctrine that the HERAL
has been preaching aud teaching a
the years while the Commercial an
other Memphis papers have bee
teaching and preaching that RAP
Means Rope"
The HERALD has time and agai
insisted that the crime of rape d,
served death by hanging; but it hs
always at the same time insisted tul
the rope should be tied by the hand
of an officer Of the law. But the mo
law papers answered, "the wretc
deserved his fate