The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-03-25
SUNDAY, MARCH %. 1900.
THE MOB RULES.

The mob ran riot in Virginia yesterday
and trampled the law under foot Every
law-atiding citizen Of Virginia hangs his
head in shame, for the old Common
wealth has been disgraced. The mob and
the officers of the law were brought face
to face in an issue involving both the
life of prisoners In the hands of the law
and the organic law of the State. but the
officers Of the law tamely submitted and
the mob triuulphed.
1t is openly asserted that those who
were sworn to uphold the law, the judge
OF the County Court of Greensvillc and
1.-THE sheriff Of Grecnsrille. entered into an
! agreement with the leaders of the mob
TO send away the troops who had been
serve law and order and let the mob
take the States prisoners out OF Jail and
lhang them to a tree without law. Be-
fore any compromise Of this SORT had
been agreed to. before this outrage lad
been permitted. every soldisrin this s:ate
should have been called to Ernporia pre-
ipared TO defend the peace and dignity Of
the Commonwealth with his blood
/ But the worst has not been told yet
The Governor of the State Of Virginia
permitted his troops to be Withdrawn in
full knowledge of the fact that as 5000
as they should be withdrawn the States
prisoner would be taken from The Jail
by the mob and lynched. and before those
troops reached Richmond the man was.
;lynched.
We have the kindest personal regard
for Governor Tyler. and 1t diszresses US
beyond expression TO be compelled to
speak thus plainly about his action in
This case. But we must speak The State
of Virginia has been disgraced and Gov
crnor Tyler is responsible for it There
As no escape for the Governor from this
charge, much as we hate to make it at
1870 o'clock yesteday morning Major
Cntclhns. who was in command of the
State troops ut Emporia, telegraphel 1o
Governor Tyler as follows:
Hold company at arn1ory. Everything
quiet this morning. We will soon be dis
charged. Without protection the prisoner
will be lynched. Shall obey orders and
leave?" To this the Governor replied:
1.-THE sole responsibility is on the sheriff.
DO nothing but obey. we have done
everything possible to uphold law and
prevent mob violence. and are still pre-
pared TO render any aid necessary
In tho name of law and order, what is
the Governor Of Virginia for? He is the
Executive officer of the State and that
means that he is sworn ITO take care that
the laws be faithfully executed" and
TO this end may call fort1, the militia
Or any part thereof to suppress any COM
thnation to ohstruct the due execution
of the laws.
1t n,attered not what the sheriff of
GrecnsvilIe county said: it mattered not
what the judge of the County Court Of
Greensville said Governor Tyler knew rs
well as man could know anything, hav-
ing been so informed by Major cutcnins
! in command, that the moment those
troops were withdrawn. that moment the
mob would be In full sway and that tho
States prisoner would be swung to d
tree. Suppose Major cutcnins had report
cd to Governor Tyler that II the troops
should be withdrawn the mob would
carry out their threat made the day be-
fore and lynch Judge Goodwin. Us 1t
possible that at the instance of the
sheriff the Governor would have called
the troops away? Suppose the mob had
begun to set FIRE to the town of iamporia,
would tho Governor have called The troops
awav simply because the sherin said So.
and let tSe mob destroy the whole town
To ask these questions Is to answer them
The Governor took a most indefenstble
position and the responsibility for the
double lynching at Enporia Is = upon
him "A great emergency arose. Tho
tanob fa,rew down the gauntlet to the Chief
/ Executive Of this Stale and In the face
4 IS the mob,s threat the Governor With