The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-09-08
NOT TO BE FOUGHT WITH FIRE.


The Journal is in receipt Of communi-
cation from an Indianapolis citizen which
for several reasons it has thought best not
to publish. The chief reason for declining
to give it publicity in its original form is
that the Journal considers its sentiments
incendiary and dangerous; further, it be-
lieves that if the writer were to see his
i'll considered thoughts in print they would
appear to him less admirable than when,
in his haste, he wrote them down. This
correspondent, angered and outraged, as
all loyal Americans are, by the attempt
upon the life of Mr.. Mckinley, urges the
immediate formation of an organization
be TO declare war on Anarchists and to
see to it that all self-confessed members
of that fraternity are removed" without
ceremony.
By advocating this lawless course he
seems not to see that he becomes as much
of an enemy to the public welfare as the
most rabid Anarchist of them ALL 1t is
indeed anarchy Of the worst sort that
would result from such proceedings. Ad-
hitting that Anarchists of the type to
which the Presidents assailant belongs are
creatures who should not be at large, ad-
hitting that the problem OF restraining
these villainous and destructive members
of society is one not yet solved, it still does
not follow that the better elements of So
ciety should resolve themselves into law
and jury, into judge and hangman. So far
from checking anarchy such course would
precipitate anarchy. An illustration Of
this is to be seen in the South at the pres
ent time. It is a natural impulse of the
average man to mete out instant vengeance
on the wretch who i'll treats a woman
When the first negro was lynched for such
offense public sentiment was perhaps not
greatly shocked, feeling that justice had
been done. When such cases multiplied
and the mob no longer waited for proof of
its victims guilt, but in its bloodthirsti-
ness sacrificed the life of any negro who
happened to fall into its hands, not being
satisfied sometimes until half dozen
had been shot or hanged; when hanging
no longer satisfied the desire to punish, but
burning and fiendsh torture of the sus-
pected one took its place-then the evils
of the disregard of courts became evident.
The crime which excited the first mob is
not less frequent, but the lawlessness of
the lynchers has created tendency among
the lower elements of the community in
those regions to regulate other matters
according to their liking. There has been
chn nd of,
minor crimes, and it is continually more
difficult for officers Of the law to do their
full duty
The result would be the same in the other
case. The Anarchist hunters would soon
not be satisfied to remove" self-confessed
Anarchists, but would direct their atten-
ton to suspects, and while they were about
it it would presently occur to them to work
their will with other offenders They would.
in short. undermine the very foundation
OF our system Of government and bring
about state of anarchy far greater than
anything the professional king destroyers
can hope for through their own efforts.
The mob at Buffalo. given a little more
time and a more complete knowledge of the
attempted assassination, might have taken
the punishment of the guilty wretch into
its own hands. but all thoughtful. lawabid-
ing citizens who feel solicitude for the prin-
ciples and institutions OF their government
must rejoice that this act was prevented.
Even if the law is such that ADEQUATE nun
ishment cannot be inflicted on the offender
it is far better to abide by the decision Of
the courts. Anarchy cannot be prevented
by adopting Anarchists methods. as the
Journals correspondent must realize when
he reflects on the matter seriously.
That there are tricks ~ all trades is a