Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1901-08-28
THE HABIT OF LYNcHING.
Tendency Toward Mob Law Growing
ssE in Certain Sections Of the
T X - Country, 80

Although the lynching habit has
ceased to be strictly sectional phe.
snomenon, it is interesting to find in
a southern paper, the: Macon (Ga.)
Telegraph, the best Isummary we
have seen of the frightening progress
of this social disease says, Century,
The Telegraph shows, by cited ex.
amples, the growing boldness Of the
lynchers. These affairs used to be,
.conventionally at least, somewhat
secret. Now, what do we find but
that, first, as in Colorado, women are
present as spectators; second, as in
Leavenworth, Kan, not only women:
but school children, and in the latter
case the barbarity proceeds, without
interruption, within the limits of
large city; third, as in Terre Haute,
Ind, a photograph is taken of the
pleasing scene, and reproduced in the
newspapers; these particular burners
of living men, instead of trying te
hide their identity, .'stand boldly
out" and one of them. perceiving the
photographer, "even removed his hat!
as if anxious for notoriety;" fourth,
as in sCorsicana, Tex, it is: a county
event: in which every resident who
could took part"-verbal invitations
were sent out in all directions
''store and farm work were stopped.
and people poured into town by hun.
dreds. They came in all sorts of We.
hicles, from an ox-cart to the special
train of seven cars, all crowded, that
was run from Ennis" The Macon
Telegraph observes that from all
this it is but step to legitimate
public spectacle in great amphithe.
alter, with handsome private boxes
for the wealthy, and tickets adver'
tised a week in advance" But how
long ago was it that Americans were
advancing, as justification of our
procedure in relieving Cuba of Span.
ish rule, the decentralization of the
Spanish people as proved by their
fondness for bull-fghts? What, then:
is indicated in American character by
this new and popular American pas.
time-roasting alive of human beings.
with the accompanying scramble for
"relics?" ..;
One of the most surprising and dis.
couraging features of the lynching
has been the absence from the news
paper records, until lately, of un-
faltering opposition to lawlessness on
the part of those sworn officers OF
the law Immediately responsible for
the safe-keeping of criminals; nor
have we heard of effectively heroic
interference on the part of humane
and law-abiding spectators-men or
women determined that horrible and
demoralizing violence shall not be
done, and that their community and
country shall not be disgraced in the
eyes of the civilized world.
It has occurred to us, indeed, that
perhaps it was time for the press to
get out specific advertisements for
heroes and martyrs on the line of op-
position to the scandalous epidemic
of American lynchings, when 10!
without the advertisements, the he
roes begin to make their appearance.
Doubtless the heroes will increase in
number, and perhaps there may yet
be martyrs likewise, though, as a
fact, we ought to, be able to get
along without the martyrs, as they
would be new advertisement of our
degradation.
Early in June at least two cases
were announced where lynchinga
were averted by the heroic courage OF
officials. The name of Joseph Merrill,
sheriff of Carroll county, Ga, and
that of Sheriff Beloat. of Prince
ton, Ind, are to be written large on
the roll of civic fame. Their deeds
shine brightly in a dark moment in
the history of American civilization
Their conduct is sure to be initiated
The power of one fearless man over q
crowd is unlimited. There is scene
in "Huckleberry Finn which shows
this wildly, and Mark Twain, in tell
ing how Col. Sherburn stopped q
lynching-the lynching of the colone!
himself, by the way--was not invent
ing, but describing an occurrence in
his own town and time.