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


arfaignment OF mob law. that 1t is worth
the while to enquire what is law? Law
is TO define the boundary between right
ana wrong, and is to Judge b tween Right
ana wrong. II gauges the different DC
srces Of wrong done to right and assesses
the runishment to be dealt out 20 wrong
IN justice OF right According 10 law
proper punishment Is due to wrong In
justice OF right In accord with law a
murderer or rapist has forfeited his lie,
not 10 the law but TO the community IN
which the murder or the Violation OF the
Woman was committed a murderer or
rapist does not give his victim time 10
prepare himself The attack is lmwediate.
The law OF equity demands that the MUIR
derer be treated in like manner IN which
ne has treated his victim, justice 20 the
murderer therefore demands his immediate
execution: Justice to the victim aud TO the
mediate execution
Justice TO right demands the punish
lshment of wrong. the only justice a
Wiongdoer can expect is punishment for
the wrong done to right. yet our lawyers
claim that Justice requires that the wrong
aoer shan have every means given him
ana all possible time TO try to evade and
escape well-deserved punishment.
our state laws are not founded In
. NN'Ns anu JUSTICE lutN are compromise
between interests. The interests of the
lawyers are predominant in them as Is
eNideSced by the immense cost OF Grim
maj 0tions to the State. Next comes the
interest Of the criminal, II is on his &C
count and through him that the legal
talent can bleed the State. The murdered
or the community in the eyes Of the law
yer do not require justice or consldera-
ton. Facts are not wanting that proven
criminals, after being kept IN Jail for
years, were set free or escaped with
light punishment. whilst iunocHnt men
nave been proven guilty and executed or
sent for long terms into pen.tentiayy: our
laws as well as their administration are
'auIty a criminal the day after he is
captured could be arraigned. the day after
irisd and found guilty. and the day after
his execution could take place. This
would be actual Justice and would strike
terror into the evildoers To this are but
two obsiacles-a morbid seutlmcntalism IN
favor oil the living criminal and the great
'urtaiiment of expected fees TO which
court officials and lawyers consider them
selves entitled.
The rights of tho murdered or the yolat
ad as well as those OF their relations and
Of the community drop out OF sight in
legal proceedings. yet those rights ought
10 have precedence. they require in Jus
@'Nc thut prompt ana concise punishment
20 Heted out TO the criminal, in default of
mis- society, in self-dofense. has the right
10 do what the law fails to do. Law IS
not supposed to be for the benefit of the
Hlni1hai but for the protection of society
against the criminal
Law obtains its majesty from the poo
pie and not from those elected by the
'eopie TO constitute the government The
after are the servants OF the people The
leople are the primitive law government
'epTesents enacted law. ana the people are
ne ultimate law. Mob law or lyuching is
''nelllon. Rehellions against enacted law
''erywhere. odious or exorbitant, is con
ldered wrong as long us might fails the
'eoels. Might makes rebellion right: right
5 not question in suppressing rebellion
'ut law. however burdcnaome the law.
MOD law is rebellion against enacted
avs which work oppressNely against the
ust rights of communities. II all rebel
Ton Is wrong. then mob law is wrong, but
I some robellions are considered right.
hen the exercise Of mob law against the
higher grade of criminals on account Of
ne inacuon or slow proceedings of enact
"a law must also be right
Law to be just must. under all condl-
ions. work equitably. \ law which ia
'orabiy acts upon one part TO the detri-
nent Of another part Is not just. yet this
y what most Of our enacted laws do
Ven, women and children are murdered
n raylshod without previous warming.
Justice. as well as equity requires that
similar fate should await the murderer
IF ravishcr. Yet law intervenes ami sass
he murderer must have ample time to
Prepare himself, he must he given n show
o defend himself against deserved pun
shmcnt: he must be given trial to show
ither hc can or cannot escape the natur-
i consequence of his crime.
Nothing is more injurious to any Stale
s class or compromise laws. a law good
or one part ought to he good for the
whole state: an advantage given to one
art Is Il disadvantage not only to the
ther part, but to the whole State. 1t sets
he ono part at ennlity with the other part
nd IS the hrst and greatest inducement TO
lw-brcahng misdemcanors are stepping
tones to crime and the lesser crimes due
o class. or compromise. laws are step
ing stones to the higher crime.
Wrong is an act through which the right
others is njurously affected where no
injury N tho ,fpbf nF n,hnrs IA, ,,.i