Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-11-19
4 DISGRACE TO AMERICAN CIVIL
IZATIOE

Of the dark ages. The crime which this
brute had committed was q hideous
one and the mob will say truthfully.
in excuipation OF their act. that the
him in his execution We're in nowIse
commensurate with those suffered by
his victim-a beautiful little white girl
only IL years of age. They Viii say
that this fiend in human form richly
deserved the death penalty; and here
again there will be no one TO disagree
with them.
When all this has been said, how
ever. the fact remains that this horri-
BILE scene. the CHASTITY details of
which were given with such yividness.
by the newspaper men who mingled
with the mob. was disgrace 10 our
American civilization. Il reproach 10
the dignity and supremacy of our law,
and dispara cement OF our institutions
in the eyes of the whole world. 1t is
not pleasant for us to reflect that there
is probably not another country upon
the face OF the globe, which can lay
just claims to d Christian civilization
where such n scene would be possible,
although. doubtless, ii is equally true
that there are no others where similar
conditions obtain.
There may be some who will criti-
else the press for giving the facts con-
nected with this horrible event with
such fullness Of detail; but il seems TO
Us that such people take 4 very narrow
view Of the situation, and have very
superficial conception of the necessi-
ties of our form OF government. Where
the powers OF government are lodged
in Car it is not essential that the
masses should be coGnizant Of public
events. In Republic, il is vastly
different. There every citizen is Il
sovereign, and public sentiment-which
frequently counts for 50 little in Il
monarchy-becomes 4 mighty force
controlling and directing the national
Idestinies. The American newspaper,
therefore. that SO often comes in for
the criticisms of thoughtless and
superficial cyclists. who ignore the
practical side Of affairs and rest secure
in their own sense of self sufficicncy,
is not i creature of chance. 1t is the
natural and logical result Of American
institutions. which make il vitality
! necessary that the voters whose con-
sensus Of opinion is the ultimate law of
the land, should be vastly better in
! fol med concerning the details Of the
national life-than the inhabitants Of
countries. whose government is not
based upon the popular will.
| It is not only right, therefore. that
| the story of the horrible holocaust at
| Limon, Colorado, should be placed be
| fore the American people in all its
| hideous details. but it is also vitality
| necessary if measures are TO he taken
| to prevent the recurrence Of such
| events. In no other way can
We possibly hope for the awakening of
that powerful public sentiment, which
| shall demand and secure the suprem-
| acy of law. which shall do away with
mob rule. and secure TO established
courts OF justice the complete and or
derby exercise OF their legitimate func-
tons.
1t is serious matter when passion
usurps power; when fury and frenzy.
| wantonly trample upon reason and
method-and revenge is substituted for
justice.
There is not q patriotic citizen of
this great Republic, III possession of
his sober senses. who does not denlore
the wickedness and barbarity of the
mob at Limon. One crime can never
excuse another Because the victim
! was q brute. a fiend in human form. il
does not excuse his self-appointed exc
cutioners from transforming them
selves into brutes and fiendS.
This event is not only Il lasting dis
grace 10 the state OF Colorado, but it is
also a stain upon the civilization of the
nation. And it was all needless, Posi-
lively no good end has been accom-
plished by il. The father who de-
handed for the murderer of his child
the torture of the stake. may have
satisfied his thirst for revenge, but he
and those who assisted him. are guilty
Of q crime but little less heinous in the
| sight OF God and man. than the one for
which their victim died.
Is there any good reason to suppose
that the courts of Colorado would moi