New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-02-20
THE ETHICS OF THE MOB.

There are few more interesting phenomena
In natural history than those arising from or
associated with gregarlousness. They have be-
come In many cases the dominant character
lstcs of animal life. The swarming or bees
the mad migration OF the jennings, the trucu-
lent raiding of the dholes. the automata-like
following of sheep after TIE bell-wether. the
ordered flight Of cranes and wild geese. are
equally familiar and significant examples. In
many cases the gregariOus Instinct serves
beneGcent purpose. In others II may have
most mischIevOus results. II the bcwcthcr
lean over an obstacle in the path every other
member Of the flock will make a similar leap
even though the obstacle be removed before
they reach It, That Is a harmless performance
Bnt exactly the same unrcasoning impulse
sends the Jennings to death. and. before they
were eXterminated. drove the bison into their
rulnous stampedcs. 1t is only when each mem
Der of the host maintains It's Individuality, as
do bees and cranes and wolves of the pack
that good is gained from gregarlous habits.
The same rule exactly applies TO the human
race MAN" said Montesquleu, lis social
animal" And beyond question the progress OF
mankind IN civilization is chiefly due TO that
very fact. II is among settled communities, not
among solitary nomads. that the highest cult
IRE and bencfcence are attained. Ncverthe-
less II Is equally true that nothing is more de-
grading and more subversve of mans best
interests than blind, unrcasonlng grcgarlous-
moss An ordered army marches to victory. and
not only triumphs collectively. but. through its
discipline and reasonable concord. clcvates and
improves each individual member. \ mob, on
the contrary rlIshes 10 mischief and TO ruin,
and dcbascs To brutality each individual MEM
Der Of It. The solitary malefactOr may com
NIT great crimes and the individual fool may
net with folly: but neither will ever rival the
worse than bestal wCkedncSs. vlleness. cru
eItv. foolishncss madness Of the passiOn-led
or panic-driven mob.
II IS no exaggeration. therefore, 10 say that
ANYTHING that tends to the formation of mobS
is n menace and a curse. To facilitate volun-
tarv and orderly association is to serve the in
terests Of the community. To force men ana
women together into herds and 10 drive them
as herds are driven Is n monstrous wrong. II
II shall not lead 10 some collective horror II
will assuredly have It's influence for evil and
FOR debasemcnt upon each individual. That In
all seriousness Is what II Is now actually do
ing There IL no more revolving spectacle in
the 6lth-sollcn SlumS OF the city than j. 10 be
seen every evening nj the Brooklyn Bridge ana
at the terminals OF the elevated railroads ana
trolley lines where men and women are trans
formed for the time into snarllng. struggling
hrutcs and where their characters and diSpoS'-
/ tlons receive n tincturc ~ bestiality which tim"
will never remove The glarlng eyes. the saw
ooelv grlnulng teeth the clnched fists the
fierce rushinss. crowdngs. trampnSs. IN when
courtesy and dcccncy are alike ignored. all be-
sneak beyond doubt n EQUALIZATION OF Inc
multitude that must make Its mark for "Nli
upon our whole social constitution. II may De
said. advisedly and confidently. that the de-
cline In popular manners which Is 50 much ne
plored the lack Of courtesy toward women ana
OF respect for age. the wife-beating ana the
cruelty To children that are 30 often reported
! in police courts. and nnumrrabe other mann
| festations Of seliishness. boorShneSs and inhn-
| manltv are due largely 10 the undertaking. ana
/ the CcgradatiOn that large share of the pnhhr
* daily forced 10 undergo In the process of get
ting home from business and from work.
! The rule * a simple one. Treat people like
hrutcs and they will become like bruteS Ana
| these transportation companies. or some or
them. are systematically and Intentionally
/ treating men and women even worse than
| brutes through sheer. niggardly selhSlneSs.
/ The men who manage the Brooklyn Bridge
and the elevated road Of which the Bridge j.
now part would not permit their carriage
horses to be iostlcd and crowded as they com
! pel men and women TO he. nor 10 he Kept stand
! Ing unsheltered in the cold. nc the patrons or
that road are kept; nor 10 be- stabbed In 80
| filthy a den as the sole waitingroom provided
Mt the Bridge terminal And yet they are treat
tug the public TINS on that public's own prop
erty. which they are using for their own prl-
vate gain.