The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-08-24
A Sleeping Devil Reused.

- 0tC0YIuk tGfl NOdsSos
The story OF mob violence at Akron,
Ohio, continues and expands the rec
ord OF New York City and New Orleans.
In all these cases the passions Of the
popuiace outran the cause OF provo
cation. which was presently forgotten.
This was not as clearly shown In
either OF the other instances as In the
Ohio outbreak. There the disturbance
started with an attempt to lynch
criminal But after It was shown that
he had been removed TO place OF
safety outside the city. the excitement
only waxed flercer. City authorities
were attacked and city buildings
wrecked. The torch and the dynamite
cartridge were used freely. Criminals
were released. and every man repre-
sentins the authority OF the law was
hunted down and fired upon at sight.
II was a reign of terror and visita-
ton Of anarchy that may well make
every citizen OF the republic pause to
take bearings.
II would fall short Of the truth TO
ascribs any one OF these outrages to
race feeling alone. Undoubtedly that
was the provoking cause. In New
Orleans and In New York negro
criminal shot ana killed. In one case
three men ana IN the other one, But
vengeance did not limit itself TO the
destruction OF the offender, 1t degen-
Grated into an uprising Of the mob that
soon forgot what the original provoca-
tion was. At Akron the character Of
the disease made itself more apparent
There negro pleaded guilty OF as
sault and was In the custody OF officers
OF the law. when he could not be
reached. the rioters turned upon the
law itself. II was the representatives
Of the law. the authorities. the build
ings. suggesting any barrier between
the desperadocs and their Wild will,
that were assailed. The criminal was
utterly forgotten. and 20 insult the rule
Of order and level society In chaos be-
came tho Inspiring purpose Of the
crowd
Here are proofs that a sleeping devil
has been reused which no American
citixen can afford TO Ignore or TO pass
over lightly as ~ slender significance.
Judge Lynch Is terrible figure. but he
possesses majestic dignity when set
eide by side with this grisly phantom.
clothed In rags. wrapped In saualor.
smeared with blood and erased by the
resurrection OF all savage and terrible
impulses, THIS IL the temperance Of
the dark ages, the incarnation az tho
urroar IN the fanbourss OF Parts a cen
tary aEo. the repetition os the horrible
rsvcis Of the Jaoauerle. Above the
placid plain % modern civilization a vol
cana raises itE head. heichlnE the
flame and smoke ~ the ho,tomless pit.
And Il Is all the m0re alarming In that
the latest eruption occurs not In the
slums 81 great city where the vice
and wiesedness Of eruwdlng millions
are concentrated. bat In the pleasant.
homsly streets OF a country town.
We have warned the people. eloquent
tongues and earnest hearts have
warned them, that this nation has been
PLAYING with fire. II Il the devils work
that has been coins forward fer more
than four years past. and its Internal
fruits are beginning 70 mature, Pont.
icai orators have walked the country
from end 10 end 70 iuSsill the doctrines
that emerge In action Ia these shapes
az woe asd doom. To attack men and
policies Is legitimate To appeal 10
class hatred. 10 the lowest passions. %
hold up the Law as the common enemy.
10 teach that wherever poverty exists
II il because some other man has stolen
the fruits OF honest toll. to spread the
doctrine that all inequalities Of cir
cumstanee are due 10 an unequal law.
ma TO declare that the rule OF law and