The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-07-29
An Era of Lawlessness


Dorchester Democrat and Chronicle)
This is getting to be a pretty lively
republic. The war over in the Philip
pines does not begin to utilize the
superfuous energy and love of excite
ment of our people. Base ball, cycle
races, golf, polo, yachting and other
sports use up little of it; but after
all these outlets are fun there is
still left a vast volume which just now
is exercising itself with mob violence
in some of our Northern cities and in
several of the Southern states.
1t is impossible to keep up with these
modern developments of the old, primi-
tive assertion of force. The sedate
spirit of acquiescence in law and love
of order which prevailed among our
fathers and grandfathers seems to have
given place to love of rioting and law
lessness. When workmen or newsboys
or telegraph messengers go on a strike
it is the signal for a general rallying
Of the forces of mischief for destroy
ing property and assailing the persons
of peaceable citizens. We do not
mean to say that the strikers gener-
ally are responsible for this. In most
cases they are not; but their hold-up
of industries affords an opportunity
for the wild, ruffianly and vicious
classes in our cities to crafty their
love of violence and hatred of
law and order by joining in the
general assault upon the interests
and the peace of society.
In the South contempt for order.
law, right and justice has taken on a
'fanatical phase which is threatening
to plunge some states of that section
into a condition of civil strife, if not
of anarchy. Lynching mobs are now
reported from Georgia, Texas and 9TH
er states almost daily. An old-fash
ioned lynching by simply hanging the
victim no longer satisfies the tastes
of those Southern mobs. 1t has be-
come common to mutilate and torture
the man before he is finally disposed
Of. This is the old Indian spirit re-
vived in communities heretofore re-
garded as civilized. 1t is a reaction
to the savagery of the race before the
spirit of Christianity had introduced
the elements of mercy and humanity.
1t is a curious phenomenon that these
surprising outbursts of violence. of
cruelty and lawlessness are occurring
side by side with the most eXtraordin-
airy demonstrations of philanthropy.
benevolence and enlightened interest
a Of Il
ever seen. Churches, schools, colleges,
hospitals, asylums and every other
form of enterprise designed to alleviate
suffering, strengthen the weak, edu-
cate and inspire the masses, are flour
ishing, Men and women of wealth
are giving away millions for the good
of their fellows, while thousands upon
thousands, not wealthy, are making
sacrifices in behalf of charity and hu-
manity.
Our civil and governmental institu-
tions are still on trial. There is a lat
ent sentiment against the evils we
have noticed sufficient to suppress them
in month if that sentiment could
| only be organized and put in operation.
The orderly and law abiding are
strong enough easily to bring the forces
of violence and vice into subjection and
compel respect for and obedience to
! law, if they would only combine and
stand firmly for that purpose. 1t
makes no difference in what name vio-
! lence and lawlessness manifest them
| selves, whether in the name of labor,
of female virtue and security, of hos
! tility to a race, of religion, a sect
| or a creed, they should Immediately
| be stamped out by the application of
! law and its penalties. Politicians and
| sions of the populace and encourage
! outbreaks at the expense of the peace
| of a community, however specious and
! plausible their talk should be treated
as the foes of society and traitors to
! the cause of law and order. 4 citizen
! who will vote for a demagogue or sup
! port a newspaper of that character is
/ as guilty as the demagogue or the
newspaper is. North as well as South,
the time has come for good citizens
10 take stand i'm behalf of respect for
! the law and the courts. Not other
| wise can the wild, reckless and de-
structlve forces of violence and ulti-
mate anarchy be brought into subjec-
| tion to law and decency and right.