The leader., 1897-06-30
MOB VIOLENCE,

and ominous. For a time the sole
objects of its vengeance were those
charged with criminal assault upon
females, and thus found some meas
ure OF provocation and apology in
manly and chivalric instincts. TAX.
ing encouragement from this toler.
alton 1T now seems to judge and
punish for murder. 1t has reached
that stage in this State where it is
an Indictment of the whole people
and a defilement of their civiliza-
ton, Experience makes it plain
that ordinary judicial machinery is
inadequate, and if it is to be de.
stroyed aud the State spared fur.
ther debasement, extraordinary
measures must be adopted. That
my view Of the means necessary
and feasible may be moro clearly
presented, a bill is submitted here
with for your consideration. The
salient features of the act are, 1)
speedy punishment for criminal as.
sault, thus removing any cause for
mObs; (2) legal denunciation of the
participants in mObs as murderers
to be punished accordingly, and (3)
removal from Office of any officer
who under any circumstances per-
mits prisoner to be executed by a
mob. The enormity of the offense
of criminal assault and the delay
incident to our present judicial sys-
tenn are the most common excuses
for mob violence. Under existing
law it often happens that an indict-
ment cannot be returned for
months, and the trial afterwards Is
subject to vexatious delays. The
bill submitted authorizes the find
ing of an Indictment Immediately
in any county in the judicial dis
trict OF the offense where the court
may be in session, and if not in
session, then IN the first county in
the district in which the court is
held. A speedy trial is then pro-
vided for and precedence is given
over all other cases in all courts.
Besides the menace to criminals
which it offers in an ignominous
punishment, this would remove all
pretext for the populace to take the
law in their hands. If In plain vi
Olation of the law they nevertheless
take human life and cruelty deny
to an accused the opportunity to
offer proof of innocence, they are
guilty of murder and their punish
ment should at least be rendered
probable by fixing the venue of the
prosecution in other counties than
their residence. The Jail and the
courthouse represent public law.
An attuck upon them questions the
capacity of the people for self-gov-
ernment and is an assault upon
civilization itself. The sacrifice of
human life by mobs, the victims
sometimes innocent and often their
guilt in doubt, is appalling, but the
disayowal of legal restraint and the
trampling under foot of organized
government which they involve is
far more portentous. The officer
charged with their preservation
who under any condition will per
NIT the civil institutions of Christ
ian people to be thus assailed and
desecrated is unworthy the trust.
That removal proceedings may be
effected they should be directed by
the encouragement in counties
free from the influence which would
necessarily cmbarrass or defeat
them. Obviously the officer should
be rendered ineligible to re, election
or appointment, tor otherwise re-
mOval would be farce"
The above denunciation of mob
law by Gov. CulbersOn, in a special
message to the Texas Legislature,
is as applicable to the situation in
Mississippi as in Texas. 1t is time
for every good citizen in this coun
try to call a halt and speak out in
no uncertain terms against mob
violence. For the life of us, we
cannot see how any thoughtful man
can afford to give the slightest
countenance to this mob spirit. The
acts of the mob of the cultured and
enlightened town of Crystal
Springs last week, was not only a
reprOach to our bOasted Christian.
ity, but in some of the details was
q disgrace to human civilization
and a long stride backward toward
the barbarism of the dark ages.
As Gov. Culberson well points
out, this mob spirit is progressive
in it's evil tendencies. Starting
out with the plea that it only de-
sires to protect and vindieate the
virtue of helpless females, we find
it soon cruelty prosecuting and
swinging up its helpless victims for
murder and other crimes. Only
last winter State troops were called
out in this county and Copiah, at
heavy expense, to prevent a mob
from wreaking summary vengeance
on two white men charged with
murder and in the custody of the Of
ficer of the law. At Crystal Springs
the other day blue coats and bayo-
nets would have again appeared on
the scene to prevent the people
from overriding their own officers
and trampling under foot their own
laws, had not Gov. McLaurin and
Lieut.. Gov. Jones happened to be
where requisition for troops by
=, .,l ..a ann1 NOT paooh