The leader., 1898-01-12
Bishop Galloway Protests
Against Lynch Law.

and other States are enough TO ex
cite at once horror and humllia
ZION in every patriot aud friend O
humanity. Certainly it is high
time for every Christian citizen tC
speak ont in condemnation of the
reign of the mob. Courts Of f.justict
are despisej. The forms of law
have ceased to command conf
dence, and human life has become
the cheapest thing in our com
munities. On mere suspicion men
have been lynched whose limo
cence was afterward established
The mere possibility of such 4
thing is horrible. The fact is a
burning shame aud uEutterably
dis9raceful. 1t is no defense to
say that other sections of our cOun
try are equally guilty. We must
sustain the majesty of the law or
else surrender our claims to
common humanity, to say nothing
of the spirit of Christianity. Apollo
gy for lynchers is license to repeat
the Offense, and | do not hesitate
to say that every lyncher is AN
outlaw, and ever after has the
spirit of bandit. Every consti
tutional prerOgative should be EN-
p,oyed. and all executive and judi
cial authority exhausted to save
our fair land from tine domination
and degl adation of the mob. |
speak earnestly because the exI
gency is upon us. 1t is not time
for soft words and the prOphesylng
Of smooth things when the declar
ton is made that lyching bands
are organized with q system OF
signals, ready at moments notice
to swing into MD air the first hap
less suspect. If our laws are in
adequate, and the courts of the
country powerless to arrest the red
handed violence, the people in
their majesty must up and demand
needed legislation and then the
fearless enforcement of law"
Bishop Gal'oway's words are
true and timely. 1t is high time
good citizens every where were
raising their voices and firmly set
ting their faces against the grow
ing spirit of mob violence, which
threatens to Subvert and supercede
all regularly constituted means for
the administration of justice in
criminal cases. The situation, how
ever, as the Bishop indicates, is
one that calls for action, rather
than mere denunciatiOn. In this
connection two or three things are
mentioned which THE LEADER
considers feasible and practicable,
and which would doubtless go a
long way toward effecting the
needed reform.
One of these is the plan suggest
ed some time since by the Vicks-
burg Herald, of 80 or 100 law,
abiding citizens in every county
organizing themselves into a law
and order league and holding them
selves in readiness to render as
sistance to the Sheriff or other
officer in protecting prisoners
against the assaults of mObs. 1t
often happens that Sheriffs and
Constab.es do not take risks and
defend prisoners III their custody
as they should, because they are
not given the moral support and
active assistance they should re
ceiye at the hands of the best citi
zens, and are too often made t"
feel that they are standing alone
in defense of the law. Every man
who is a voter takes a solemn oath
% support the Constitution and
laws of the State and faith
ful allegiance bear to the same.
If there were such an Organiza
ton as this in every county, com
posed of men who were ready to
die, If need De-nOt for some gull
ty, death deserving fellon, per
chance,-but rather than see the
law set at naught and their own
officials defied and Overridden by IA
blood thirsty mob-it would have
a remarkably chilling influence Oh
the mobocratic spirit and strength.
en- correspondingly everywhere the
spirit of reverence and respect fol-
law.
We would Ike TO see the editor
of the Herald, who first made the
suggestion and is q brave and
chivalrous ex-Confederate soldier,
lead off i'm the form alton Of snch an
organization IN ms own county,
for we feel quite sure, with the
movement properly started, a large
number of, counties would follow
Warren's example.
A second practical remedy, in nc
wise i'm conflict with the first men
toned, is the passage OF a law
providing for the appointment o.
a sufficient number of special
criminal judges whose duty y
shall be to visit the several coun
ties whero capital offenses are com
nitted. convene court and give the
accused n. speedy trial. This rem