The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1897-09-17

LIST Peter, 2-13-14.
AT this time, when a spirit of
lawlessness prevails, more especially
among the ignorant and ungodly,
from north to south, it behooves
the heralds of truth when called
upon, to give no uncertain sound.
The admonition of ST. Peter in the
text should be jealousy needed lest
we fall into the vortex and be
swept from our moorings by the
tide of lawlessness and ignorance.
Many mistake all law, both hui
man and divine to have been given
solely for the punishment of the
wicked and criminal classes, but
this is an error, for the law is not
only for the punishment of the
crime, but for the reformation of
society. 1t is the 'sfortress'' and
"high tower" and guardian and
protector alike of the strong and
weak, of the wise and ignorant, of
the rich and poor, hence, all should
feel themselves bound to uphold its
majesty. Jesus not only wept over
the erring, but he scorned and ex-
coriated and denounced those who
violate law, and the unmistakable
trend of all his teachings are that it
is the duty of all his followers to
preserve the majesty of all whole
some law both human and divine,
whether it should condemn our
neighbOrs, or bring even ourselves
under bane.
1t is painful to all lovers of right
eousness to see the law trampled |
upon, either by fends in human
form, or by any citizen, or by a |
mob of men. There is absolutely
no valid reason to be offered by any
for the prevalence of mob law,
under any circumstances. Even
mad dog may be killed quietly
when one is certain that he has the
rabies, and the citizen or citizens
v no can condone or palliate mob
law, are nursing a reptile which
may at any time sink its fangs into
heir own flesh and extinguish their
ives. Lawlessness is lawlessness.
Though it may differ in kind it is
he same, whether in the bosom of
he brute who wrecks virtue or in
he bOsOms of the mob which as
umes the role of Infatuated good
citizenship. And ordinarily, fair vir- 1
ne, or any other phase of society,
you'd be just as safe in the hands of
N unrestrained brute, as in the
ands of an average mob. The mob +
L
hat takes the criminal and burns
i'm at the stake and preserves his t
oes, ears, fingers, etc., as memen- y
'es, are well fitted to commit any
rime of which their victim NAV h
ave been guilty under favorable n
lrrOundings. 1t is useless to DENY e
lat the average mob is ignorant o
Id depraved, and is actuated :,
ore by thirst for blood and an a
ordinate desire for low flung SEN A
ton, than a lofty desire to see IL
rong righted and virtue defended ,
ID avenged. You cannot lay the 9,
anne upon your courts, for few ey
icers and judges will now be OF
und to wink at crime, and if there
~ be found one such he is official IL
the creature of the people, and ~
~ who made, can unmake him an tn
Icer. There are some instances 81
ere good citizens may come to- tn
her as ''law and order leagues III
the blazing light of day and band IL,
mselves together for the purpose
aiding the officers and courts in of
aiming evidence to convict crim,- hu
5, but such is recognized as le- HI
innate and is commendable in the an,
y highest degree where lawless- of
5 prevails under cover, but the ma
which comes together in the lea
kness of night with Mosques I'd.
n their faces and take the mana
prisoner from the officer who Sou
worn to protect him after he be- at
es his prisoner, and brutally Ore
ders him, or bombards a Jail u
O"''eiinS rams ana forces poll
iff to surrender a prisoner that lah
may burn him alive, or put g
TO death otherwise IN dofonoo has
le law, or goes to the house of wv
Objectionable citizen and shoots Jacl
hundred bullets through his it is
5, and warns him to leave In ever
n time on penalty of death, is It's us .
'ly indefensible under the laws ~ ~
oU VI nan' anu a community ergy
is afflicted with a considerable 81
enshiD of that character Will h. reap