The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-03-27
TUESDAY, MARCH %, 1900.
cUTcHrNs AND HIS MEN.

The remedy for such occurrences may
DE found in greater cultivation in the
minds and hearts Of the people of I
deeper respect and devotion for our con-
stitution and laws, thereby causing them
TO select as their officers men who viii
fearlessly maintain the majesty of the
law.
GOVERNOR TYLER
To all of which The Times Says amen
We need in every department: OF govern
rnent officers who have such respect for
the law, and such a high sense o. Their
duty that they will stand up for The law
and defend It against the mob. no matter
what be the odds against them nor what
the cost. II IS not enough that an officer be
honest and efficient, he must De coura-
Ecous as well. lie must have Il dec,
sense of his obligation To the government,
ard lie must have the courage OF his
convictions. ISo greater obligation could
rest -,Ilon man than the trust of Of
flee. A sworn officer represents the dig
nifty and majesty of the LAW, and he
stands between the government and the
mob 4Ie is the commander Of an army
whose business it is to defend his coun-
try against an Invading foe, and when
the mob marches its forces cut against
him there must be no parley and no
compromise. If our institutions TO
be preserved we must have in Office men
who will stand up before a mob and suf-
fer themselves to be shot down, II need
be, ere they surrender a prisoner Of State
into the hands OF the mob.
At Emporla on Saturday a conference
was held between the judge and the
sheriff on the one hand, representing the
law, and a number of citizens on the
other hand, representing the mob, ana
tn. question was discussed as to whc her
OF not the military Should be discharged,
all knowing full well that as soon as the
soldiers should leave one or more of the
States prisoners would be taken cut by
the mob and lynched. Major Sol Clutch
ins, who was in command of the States
forces, when asked to declare his pur-
pose. replied that he had been instructed
10y the Governor to obey the orders of the
sheriff, and that he would carry out those
instructions But, il I stay" he went
on. IT shall request more troops to be
sent mere. ! do not want to have fire
upon you, and 1 believe that / can
best avoid doing so by bringing sufficient
troops here TO render an attack improba-
ble'' SO much for caution. hut he added
these significant words: -'If an attack Is
made upon the jail while am in charge
I shall order my men to fire, and will
stop any mob, no matter how large it
DE. that attempts 10 take those preson-
ers.''
In the body of the report of the days
doings at Emporia this little paragraph
is as a bright particular star in a dark
armament. 1t was the one redeeming
act in the most disgraceful proceedings
that ever blackcned Virginia's record.
These are the words Of an officer who
knew his duty. who had respect for the
Law and who was ready to stand up and
defend the law with his l:fe's blood. There
was nothing Of reckless brag and bravo
do in his short speech. He did not speak
until he was called upon. but when he
i & u. I II +
did open his mouth he spoke in no UNI
certain sound. de said that he would do
all that ne could 10 protect the State
prisoners without shedding blood, but he
served notice that he would protect them
against mob Of five hundred or thou
sand. or any number, so long as his men
could stand up and shoot. and he knew
that the brave boys he commanded would
redeem that promise. II Sol cutehins
had been IN control OF the situation, the
majesty OF the laH had been upheld. u
those officers who were In command had
only stood Arm against the mob and re-
lied upon cutchins and mis- brave men t
sustain them. there had been no lynch.
i ing at Emporia and nc blot upon thi
3 fair name of the State.
%. the pity OF ~: Is life 50 sweet TO ar
0Bnar x,f he law sas 10 0)0 purchased ut the