New-York tribune., 1899-05-28
WRITE VICTIMS OF THE MOB.

The recent Georgia lynching horrors had
hardly become an old story when Texas gave
en- exhibition Of mob rule. This time the vic
tins were not negroes. They were not ac-
cused Of the usual crime" There were no
women to be protected No bands Of deter
mined men, with set teeth and grim faces, were
urged on an irresistible surging of primal i'm
pulse to protect their homes. The three men,
q father and two sons, who we're hurried from
their house at night and hung In the woods
were not convicted of any crime. Indeed they
were not, we believe, specifically charged with
any crime. The sons were reported to have
been the friends and possibly the protectors OF
a criminal. and they were regarded as undesra-
Bile inhabitants. Accordingly, without even a
warning that their room was preferred to their
company, they and their comparatively inoffen-
sive father were suddenly removed.
This occurrence offers one more reason for
the belief frequently stated in these columns
that the lynching habit has become mere law
lessness, quite apart from the causes which are
urged as Its original occasion and excuse. This
fact becomes more and more apparent, and
must before long arouse the people Of orderly
instincts IN the States where lynching is fire.
uuent to save themselves and their civilization
from the menace Of free murder. That is what
lynching is rapidly tending to become. The
habit Of sudden and lawless removal Of obnox-
ious persons does not tend to regulate itself
conselvatively. 1t has been commonly re-
marked that the number and character Of
Judge Lypch's jurymen tend steadily 10 be-
come less respectable. Where few years ago
an irregular execution, that was not TO be re-
garded In the neghborhood as murder, would
have required the countenance II not the CO.
operation of the most substantial elements Of a
community, now small bands consider them
selves quite competent to kill, in spite Of the
protests of the better classes of citizens. Lynch
ing has nearly reached the line OF private muir
der A handful Of desperadoes, accustomed to
see people taking the law into their own hands
find In Il convenient instrument for wreakng
vengeance on personal enemies or for giving
free rein to wanton instincts Of bloodthirstiness
Lynching does not alone menace the pool
negro The mob has been practising on the
negro, and may at any time turn on the white
who ofYends It, as It did the other day on the
Atlanta clergyman who dared to condemn the
savage orgies Of negro burning. Race prejudice
has led respectable whites to tolerate this viper
OF disorder on their hearths and nurse into
activity the venomous spirit which was only tc
help them keep down the negro. but which they
find Is now ready to strike at themselves. II
they and their children are to be safe they must
kill this savaeery before 1t Is too late. From
Carolina TO Texas, and as well in the Northern
States wherever the instinct Of the mob mani
tests itself. It must be suppressed and punished
Efforts 10 do this may often run counter tc
strong local sentiment and passion. But II
clamor can iDumidate authority, or timidity
paralyze 1t into giving marauders free swing Il
kin and burn. whether contrary TO or In ac
cordance with neighborhood desire. then n re
public Of regulated liberty has no security. Tn,