The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1901-10-05
THELYNCHING HABIT
Growing Tendency of Certain Sec
, tions Toward Mob Law.
@EM + = tAfn.. E. ~ f3.s sssSsat:
Surprising and Discoursgang Feo-
tureu OF the Lawlessness-Wome
J. Are Found Among the Mob
T.. Sympathizers. - 9 49, 4.

ceased to be strictly sectional phe.
nomenon, it is. interesting to find in
a southern paper, the Macon (Ga.)
Telegraph, the best summary 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 a
large city; third, as in Terre Haute,
Ind, photograph is taken. Of the
pleasing scene, and reproduced in the
newspapers; these particular burners
of living men, instead of trying to
hide their identity, 'stand boldly
OUT" and onepef them, 2perceiving the
photographer, seven removed his hat,
as If anxious for: notoriety;" fourth,
as in Corsicana, Tex, it is county
event in which every, resident who
could took psrt""-verbal invitations
were sent out in all directions
''store and farm work were stopped,
end people poured into town by hun
dreds. They came in all sorts Of ve-
hicles, from an oH-cart to the special
train of seven cars, ell crowded, that
was run from Ennis" The Macon
Telegraph observes that from all
this it is but, a step to q legitimate
public spectacle In q great amph1the:
ater, with handsome private boxes
Cor the wealthy, and tickets adver.
Hised week. in advance" But how
long ago was it that Americans were
advancing, as 8 justification OF oul
procedure in relieving Cuba Of Span,
Ish rule, the demoralization OF The
Spanish people as proved by their
fondness for bull-Aghts? What, then
is indicated in American charactes By
this new and popular American pas
time-roasting alive of human beings
with the accompanying scramble FOL
S'relics ?" " 49, 49,, -,
One Of the most surprising and dis
couraging features OF the lynchine
has been the absence from the news
paper records, until lately. OF !: an
5altering opposition to lawlessness OF
the part of those sworn officers 0;
the law immediately responsible 70,
exc safe-keeping OF criminals; mol
have we heard OF effectively heroic
interference on che part of humane
and law-abiding spectators-men o'
women determined that horrible ans
denornlizing violence shall not b
done, and that their community ant
country shall not be disgraced In th'
eyes of the civilized world.
It has occurred to US, indeed, tina
perhaps it was time for the press t.
get out specific advertisements fo'
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 il
number, and perhaps there may ye
be martyrs likewise, though, as
fact, we ought to be able to ge
along without the martyrs, as the.
would be q new advertisement Of on
degradation. IS
Early in June at least two case
were announced where lynching
were averted by the heroic courage Q
officials. The name Of Joseph Merrill
sheriff Of Carroll county, Ca, an
that Of Sheriff Beloat, of Prince
ton, Ind, are to be written large Q,
the roll of civic fame. Their deed
shine brightly in q dark moment j
the history Of American civilizatior
Their conduct is sure to be initiated
The power Of one fearless man over
crowd Is unlimited. There Is q seen
in .Huckleberry Finn" which show
this wildly, and Mark Twain, in tel
ing how Col. Sherburn stopped
lynching the lynching OF the col s'lls
himself, by the way--was not inyen'
ing, but describing an occurrence
his own town and time,