The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-03-28
Mobocracy and Its Baleful Fruits.

Editor of The Times:
Sir,-The value of The Times to the
material and moral welfare Of our State
can scarcely be estimated. Its spirit is
heroic, and herosm is the need Of the
hour. a time-serving. self-seeking
journalism in the midst of such evils
as confront US to-day is not only worth
less, but contemplate Your fearless
and burning phillipics against the
Greensville county disgrace will live
when every coWardly apologist for it is
buried and forgotten.
The bravest and MODEST men are falli-
Bile. in their zeal for great cause
they sometimes misjudge others. l am
sure that The Times will allow me to
say that, after a careful study of all the
facts in the case, l am convinced that
it has made q mistake in fixing the re-
sponsibility for the withdrawal Of the
military from, Emporia upon the Gov
ernor. 1 am confident that when the
matter is thoroughly ventilated, the YER
dict of the public will be that Governor
Tyler did all that the laws of the State
would permit him to do. He has shown
himself to be a courageous man. We
cannot name any occasion on which he
has shirked responsibility. He has
dared to do things which he knew were
unpopular, because he believed his oath
OIL OluCe IeQulIeu -Ii1Il " bo tAiCiiA. LIS
conduct in the Emporia matter was
directed by the law as interpreted by
the best lawyers Of the State. If he
could not meet the exegencies OF the
hour 1t was because the law which he
was sworn to obey would not permit
him. The radical error is in the law,
which makes the authority of the
sheriff in such a case superiorato that
Of the Governor. If that foolish law
had not been in existence the Governor
would have instructed the military to
defend THE Emporia prisoners at all
hazards, and the brave Richmond boys,
led by their gallant commander, would, if
necessary, have laid down their lives
in the discharge of their duty to the
State Let the responsibility for the
disgrace rest upon the man who had the
authority to control the military force
which the Governor placed at his dis
losal. and by whose order that force was
removed from its position around the
Jail.
I applaud the righteous indignation of
Professor Mitchell admire his spon-
taneity and brilliancy. He is a man who;
never hesitates to do what he believes
to be right. But he is like other good
and gifted men whose noblest impulses
sometimes mislead them. His summary
disposition Of Governor Tyler will notsb be
supported by the conservative people OF,
the State. His hasty words will not
relegate the Governor to political OBJ
SECURITY.
II trust, Mr.. Editor, that this outburst
of law-abiding sentiment agains mob
violence, will result in such legislation
as will enable the Chief Executive of the
State to uphold the majesty of civil gov
sernment. :.
Something must be done speedily to in-
spire more confidence in the ability and
purpose of our civil authorities 10 pro-
tect life, liberty and propert we are are
making great efforts to encourag sc en- en-
migration to our State. s92sa;
We are urging men Of brains, energy
| and capital to locate upon our soil.5sstY g
are advertising the beauty 81 ss g :
climate. the fertility Of g our lands. and
!theSvastness of our undevetoped5 In1 miner az
wealth. But how cas- q Is Tor 9 our lli
competitors, in other quarters OF 1.-the h
country. 70 neutra lize these e ttTae tlons.
by advertising our mob acys and by re-.
sminding the public of the thousandsfa and
tens Of thousands pf Virginia boys aud %