The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1893-05-06
Evils Of Mobocracy.

1
There ought to be a general effort on
the part of the American press to put a
stop to lynching. Mobocracy in any
form is wrong and it is an expression of
the worst kind OF tyranny. Lynching is
mob law, if the term law may be applied
at all to such a defiance OF law, and it is
founded upon revenge prompted by pas
sion rather than retribution deter mined
by justice.
1t tends to the increase of lawlessness.
Under the plea of the inefficiency of law,
or the failure of the laws officers, it as
sumes power without appointment, be-
comes a law unto itself and overrides and
despises legitimate authority. Not only
are its acts unlawful. but it begets dis
position to ignore and rebel against that
legal restraint which is essential to the
maintenance of order-the safeguard of
society.
If iynching is ever just it is neverthe-
less evil because it is an assumption of
the rights and duties of all the Depart
ments of government. 1t provides that
penalty shall be inflicted in given case
outside of legislative enactments, it de-
termines the guilt of the accused without
| judicial investigation, it infiicts punish
ment by usurping the functions of execu-
tive officers.
But it is frequently unjust and in its
rashness and haste condemns and kills
innocent persons, who if proper time had
been afforded them could have estab-
lished their guiltlessness. This has been
demonstrated in numerous instances and
each one is standing protest against the
injustice and barbarism of lynch law.
A recent case of attempt at lynching
which fortunately failed or was foiled
by official vigilance, illustrates this
very clearly. A negro named Hudson
was arrested at Salina, Kansas, charged
with having committed dreadful assault
upon white woman and her baby. The
lady swore that Hudson was the brute
who attacked her. Very naturally the
people of the vicinity were greatly in
censed and mob was quickly formed to
string the negro up. 1t was with the
greatest difficulty that the authorities of
the place prevented his destruction.
But now indisputabe evidence is forth
| hot Of Al,
was committed the accused colored man
was seven miles away. The angry citi-
zens have become convinced OF their error.
and the sensible among them rejoice that
in their passion they did not STAY an
innocent man. Lynch law does not take
time to investigate so as to give the ac-
cused a fair chance to clear himself.
It deprives him of the sacred and
constitutional right of self defence.
Even if the proofs of guilt are beyond
controversy, none the less are lynchers
criminals. Their offense is not as essen
TALLY heinous as if their victim was
worthy of death. But before the law they
are murderers when they Intentionally
take human life. Wisely the law, which
is the voice of the people legitimately ex-
pressed, provides that life shall only be
taken by a public functionary after judi
cial investigation and condemnation.
Innocent or guilty, the accused must not
be slain by unauthorized hands. Lynch
ing in either case is murder.
The great difficulty in melting out just
punishment to lynchers is the number of
the mobocrats and, sometimes, the in
fuence they have in shielding
each other by reason of their social
standing. For, shameful to say, it is
often men of responsibility and ex-
perience who, infamed by a desire
for vengeance engage in mobocracy. New
ertheless the law should be indicated
whenever that is possible, and lawIessness
in every form should be suppressed at all
hazards.
The great necessity, however, is the
creation OF vigorous public sentiment
against mob violence and lynch law. The
press can do great deal to establish it.
Every agency that can be brought to bear
in favor of law and order should be set in
motion. And it should become disgrace
full in the view of the public, in the south
as in the north, to engage in anything
which savors OF defiance of law and an
encouragement OF mobocracy. Lynch
Law must go.