The morning times., 1895-11-20
UNFIT TO RULE.

UNFIT TO RULE.
The exhibition of weakness and utter IN
capacity Tor ruling OF AbLul Hamed, Sultan
of Turkey, was never so striking in all his
vaciilating career as at the present time.
He knows that his empire is at stake and
yet lie fails to rise to the occasion and by
at least the show of firmness celay, If not
entirely forostall, the ruin that otherwise
threatens TO engulf him. He gives orders
10 his ministers 10 mobilize troops, know
ing that the finances of the empire are rep
sented by an extra large o, and wien they
remind him of the fact he raves and curses
them. In every other way he has furnished
the world all the proof ii needs that ii is
time that lie should be made to step down
and out.
Aside from his incapacity, however, there
is not tile slightest doubt that he is men
dacious, treachcrous, utterly unmtndiul
of his promises, full Of Guplcity, low cum
ming and lacking all sense of honor and dig
nifty. From surrounding circumstances it
becomes almost a certainty that he not only
knew of all TIE friChtful massacres OF
Armenian Christians, but sanctioned and
encouraged, if he did not actually direct
or order them. The horrible slaughter at
Harpoot, in which more than eight hun
dred men, women and children Were sacri-
ficed, happened in close proximity Of
Turkish garrison. who made no move 10 put
a stop to or check the orgies of blood.
Whatever view of the case be the correct
one-wheihcr he is unwilling or unable
TO stop these outragcs, which would dis
grace tie darkest ages, and in cur day and
civilization are a blot and a stain upon
our common humanity-Abdul Hamed is
unfit to rule. Tie Powers have CALLED long
enough. II is time for action.
BEGINNING AT TIE WRONG END.
TIE constitutional convention of South
Carolina has been wrestling with the prob
lem OF lynching, an evil unfortunately too
pronou need in the Palmetto and other
Southern States. Il has sought a solution
and evolved something satisfactory 10
itself. and perhaps. 10 the people OF South
Carolina: but it VIII not work right, for
il begins ut the wrong end. Thc provision
which the convention has ena cted is that
any officer having prisoner in charge
who permits such a one 10 be wrested
from him through negligence or ineffi-
cheney shall be removed from office, and,
unless pardoned by the Governor, never
again be able 10 hold office under the
State government.
Collusion of a sheriff, town sergeant or
constable with mob intent upon lynching
n prisoner is compa ratively rare, but when
IL occurs and can be proved there ought
TO be penalty much scverer than
mere removal from office. Such coilusion
makes the official I'm question an accessory
10 murder, besides constituting fragrant
violation of his oath OF office, and it
should be made n felony punishable with
Imprisonment without the alternative of
fine. That would at least indicate to
all such officers the gravity of their Of
Tending.
But even this is secondary considera-
ton. The convention should have devised
measures for the punishment of those
people who deliberately and with malice
divine and human ordinances by taking
the law into their own hands and commit
ting murder. For lynching, no matter what
the provocation may be, is nothing but
murder, and coId-blooded murder al that
Ii is worse than no excuse for these mob
outbreaks 20 say that there is no other
adequate punishment for the particular
crime that gives occasion for them. In
every Southern State that crime, or even
the attempt at it, is punishable with death,
nor need there ever be the slightest doubt
Of jury convicting and the court pro-
nouncing The sentence.
If the law is respected by the 'best
citizens" who generally compose lynch
ing parties. and is swiftly and exactly
administered the effect will be much more
wholesome.