New-York tribune., 1903-07-08
ANOTHER LESSON TO THE MOB.

The Evansville rioters who have Deeh sl'lns
tbe country lesson in the nature OF mop Iuie
have in turn received a lesson, anu II Is one
shaInlv in contrast with that taught uy lhe
Wilmington authorities. The bVansNllle nv"
fo,,nd ti,at law had not only the power but the
disnosition to maintain itself After Que WafI
ipg the soldiers guarding the jail, which was
+anontad not nv the negro whom it was Origi-
naIIv sought to lynch. but by many prisoners
white and black. arrested on account OF the
subsequent disorders, fired upon the rioters
and fired to kill.
There is some question to who hred hFsI'
and the preponderance of evidence seems u
show that the rioters, after stonlng The soiuIeiS
for some time made the initial resort 10 nIe-
arms. That question, however, is not OF the
slightest Importance. The soldiers "ouiu n"Ne
been perfectly justified in shooting lhto nioo
defantly engaged in a riotous demohsualion
and refusing to disperse even II there hau oeel
no violence manifested directly toward tneh-
selves Their business was to DEFEND the JAN
and protect its inmates and take Whatever
means were necessary to that end hloteIs
who on oft with arms in their hands, threaten
ing violence and attacking property nave no
reason TO complain If their violence is repulsed
in kind They make war, and It is goou Ior
them to learn that war is serious business.
and wounded comrades from the encounter the
blood is upon their own heads. They should
have thought of the risks beforehand. If they
were not willing to pay the price OF rebellion
against the government, they should have main
tanned peace and obeyed the law. They wanted
blood to flow, and it does flow
Whether they have learned the lesson COM
pletely is yet to be determined. If another is
needed we trust it will be given, and with
rifles not aimed over heads, but aimed to Kill,
until the last spark Of rebellion against
law and order is extinguished and the rioters
are desirous to keep the peace for the rest OF
their lives. That is the only way. 1t Is stern
treatment. but it saves lives in the end Apollo
gists for the policy of playing with the mob say
that the lives of its intended victims are not
worth protecting at such cost. But it is not
question of the lives of these victims. be they the
vilest of wretches or simply innocent objects
of mad prejudice and passion. 1t is question
of the life of the State and Of civilization. The
mob which attacked the Wilmington jail to res
cue not to harm an alleged Iyncher, and the
mob which attacked the Evansville jail as a
mere incident of a race quarrel were both
making war against the very foundations or
government, i war as wicked and traitorOus
as any which could be made Such rioters de-
| serve death. Rife bullets will bring them into
| obedience, and the quicker and sharper their
punishment with the less loss of life will the
| supremacy Of law be established. Other mobs
will be warned by Evansville. federation there
means license elsewhere. Vigorous repression
there means greater respect for law in every
! part of the country.
One incident of the Evansville outbreak IS
| extremely pathetic. but it, too, has its lesson
One of the killed is a fifteen-year-old girl who
was driving with her parents They were at
tracted by the excitement Of the rioting to drive
near the mob and stop for a few minutes to
watch what was going Their sorrow must
excite deep sympathy. They doubtless meant
no harm, but it is an old saying that the inno-
| cent onlooker is the one sure to get hurt in a
| riot. Innocent people should keep away from
| riots. They know. or would know if they had
| any proper respect for their government. that
| rioters must disperse or be dispersed When
they see a defiant band of lawbreakers they
should expect bullets and get out of the way.
Moreover they should realize that the by
| stander is not altogether innocent. He may
not mean to, but he is aiding the mob. In most
cases the determined lawbreakers in a mob are
| few in number Left TO themselves they would
be easily handled. 1t is the innocent bystander.
| the person who joins the crowd out of curiosity
| and pushes along behind the leaders, who makes
UP its numbers, attracts more foolish and
empty headed persons and creates Il danger
Gus demonstrat ton. The lawlesSness of the few
finds its opportunity and instrument in the curl
osity of the many. The tragic fate Of this innO-
| cent girl, brought into danger by the foolish
curiosity of her parents, should be a warning to
| all we'll disposed citizens when they see a riot
| to get away from it. People known by the
company they keep. Those who train with
| lawbreakers, however good their own nten-
tions may be- must be prepared for the fate OF
| IawbTeakers.
pAJTpOAn