The Indianapolis journal., 1895-10-22

In the West IL II Held 10 BE Neces-
sary and CfviIixfng Power
Pittsburg Dispatch,

Pittsburg Dispatch.
They can talk all they will about the
atrocious crimes committed in the name
of the law out West I'm the early days"
said a gentleman whose experience in
woody Western ways would fiji books.
but extreme measures We're as necessary
now. When man goes out to meet q
wild animal he does not take book OF
knows It would avail him nothing: but he
carries gun. To have attempted to have
dealt with the kind of men that were in
of laws and penalties such as we have
now would have been as futile as 10 have
approached wild animal with EXPOSE
are apt to believe that the representations
OF wild Western life which they see upon
the stage and read about In story books
are products Of wild imaginations and far
at variance with the facts as they really
existed. But the fact Is that those who
have seen the beginnings OF early Vest
tame comparison with the realities
That the methods adopted were in a meas
ure successful is evidenced by the manner
In which reckless disregard for the lives,
not to speak of the rights, of others was
brought into subsection by the law-inspir-
ing influence OF men who were so terri
Dly In earnest that they left no chance OF
their purpose being misunderstood
1T was the vigilance committees that
were the saving power in those early
The men who composed them were. as a
rule. the highest types Of manhood. imbued
with stern determination to see that law
and order was respected. was just think
Ing over in my mind what had become OF
some OF the more prominent men who had
much to do with making the West what II
Is to-day. and i was surprised at the num-
ber of them who. at that time were leaders
Of lynching bees, who have since become
leaders In the affairs of the Government. at
tained high positions In the courts. and. in
fact. became leaders of the people.
Zone mans career has been exceedingly
ers in small town which had the repufa-
ton of being the most lawless In the West
remember one day fellow who had been
town came In from the hills and deliberate
ly shot a man against whom he had had
a grudge for some time. | saw the shot
the time to Inquire how badly the man was
wounded but Immediately a mob formed.
the murderer was caught something that
was intended for "A trial ensued. and before
the body of the murdered man was cold the
crime had been expiated on the gallows
The man who led the mob. conducted thu
trial and all the ARA ngemenfs OF the exc
cution is now enc of the most prominent
Judges at the bar. dealing out Justice under
the code Of civilization as ne did IN the od
laws out West when there was no power
greater than that of Judge Lynch and the
.The moral effect Of such quick avers-
was made apparent IN the utter freedom
of districts where such methods were car
asr red Sa, oenses fear of having a
thing stolen. whether II be food, money or
were never locked. and you could 20 I'm
anvone's house without the least suspicion
into p house and see a pan OF gold lying on
n table. vet he would not think OF touching
IL any more than he would think OF cutting
or his head The sure. certain and severe
punishment which the vigilance committee
guaranteed all offenders WAS sufncient
sfimuiue TO make the general morality or
a Western town I'm the days OF mob rule.
far above that of the cities Of TO-DAY: Why.
II was wonderful with what persistency
know OF men being followed for months by
agents Of the committed and when can.
hrn,,vbt hack without thought Of reouiSi-
ton napers. No. from what | saw nf tho
work CT vigilance committees In the West l
must saw that admired the men who were
on Them in no small degree"