The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-07-19

To the Editor Of The Post.
Rio Frio I'lvade county. Texas. July 10
Numbers Of men have expressed their
opinions on mob or lyach law In the last
few months Prevent7tives have been
given without considering the removal OF
tho cause. Ex-Governor j. Hogg man
Of great legal acumen. as well as Of cor
ror,slty. clinchel the matter by his de-
mand that the county should BE- made to
pay damages TO the next OF kin TO the
lynchcd and that The sheriff should be
disgraccd and removed 80 Temporal, a
mores."
II is marvel how our presumed high
legal talents. our honorable governor at
the head. are enlisted in taking all pos
sible legal steps to prevent lynchings.
even TO the taking of the lives OF the
lynchors without giving The prevention OF
the crimes leading TO the lynching one
single thought II must appear to the
general public that in tho opinion OF orr
great lawyers the criminal who murders
whOIo families and rudely violates the
purity OF women mud children Is a person
more entitled to the pity, consideration
and protection Of the law and the pubic,
rs the near Of kin or neighbors of the
murdered or rayished, otherwise they
would not speak of throwing the lives and
liberties OF honest men into the balance
against the forfeited liberty ana life OF
an assassin or raplst.
The Constitution, until forfeited grants
all men protection In life. liberty and
property out OF this springs the right of
self defense IN any and all cases where
the law falls to protect through insult
cheney or inCapacity in all cases Of emer-
seno.cs the life OF the attacked has the
Ugh, oyer the ile Of the attacker
Government is an establishment OF the
people, 1t includes the legislative. the
judicial. and the executive. The people
entrust government with certain rowers,
| through which government is expected TO
protect the people in their lives, liberties
and possessions against any and all en-
orcachmonts upon the rights of the in
ditidual. The duty of government and law
| Is therefore not only to punish, but TO
prevent. crime. Each murder each rape
committed. is evidence that some one part
Of government has failed in the perform
ance OF Its duty, for the performance Of
which government taxes the people The
people are the basis OF government and
therefore also OF law. but they are not only
the foundation but also the covering OF thu
edlnce which the people erect by ballot
The people are before and behind govern
mcnt. When government fails to protect
then the people must have the right to
perform in self-defense what government
fails to perform for them. That is. as
long as our government is republican in
form: In an outocratic government the
people have no rights.
The people are the Law. the Judge, and
the executive In first instance; also In
Inst instance. Government is central
figure between the people. Government
might drop out OF sight: the people still
remain, What government fails TO do or
cannot do the people must do for their
own salvation. The evident fact that the
higher crimes are ON the increase instead
OF on the decrease. forms the conclusion
that government as It is now constituted
Is incapable Of giving sufficient protection
To society. Tho question forces itAelf to
the front: Must the people suffer them
sclves 10 be killed and their wives and
daughters TO be ravished because govern
ment Ia unable to perform ix full duty
and protect them or shall they have the
right to protect themselves against the
midnight aEsassinf
We hear = much sbopk ths UNFOLDING