Evening star., 1903-07-14
Standing UP for the Law.

The following appears in today's Wash
ington Post under New Orleans date
line:
United States Senator Foster last night
saved "A negro from the hands of a deter
mined mob bent on Il lynChinE. TIE crime
for which the negro wanted was an
attempted assault upon Mrs. Rene Roberts,
wife of a prominent planter of ST. Mary $
parish. Senator Foster il Il citizen OF ST.
Nlary's parish, and when he learned of
what had happened and was told that the
negro had been jailed. he went To the build
ing ana awaited the inevitable demand for
the prisoner.
with the senator were Judge Allen.
Judge Smith and Sheriff Sanders. 1t was
lust midnight when the mob reached the
Jail Senator Foster addressed its mem
bers. He told them that the negro would
he tried at once. and pleaded with them not
to soil the history of the state by lynch
ing which was not to be excused. Sheriff
Sanders assured the mob that he would
protect the prisoner and other addresses
were made. 1t was Senator Foster. how
ever. who won the light for law and order.
The excuse offered for lynching in cases
involving this crime is that white men
worthy of their race are moved naturally
and Immediately to vengeance. They can
not contain themselves in the presence or
IN the ncighLnrhood of a wretch who has
thus violated the holiest law of life. Their
uncontrolahle impulse is to seize him and
make way with him by the swiftest and
most terrible means possible. The SeVerest
punishment Is too mild. The suggestion.
and sometimes the open charge is that
white men who are not 50 moved are lack
Ing in spirit, in chivary, in the proper APP
probation of their duty to their woman
kind. Respect for the law at such time
IS the sign of pigeon-lver. The real man
takes the law into his own hands.
Now. here We're four men, all officials.
who remembered the law at such a time.
and successfully championed 1t. Two are
Judges. one Is the sheriff of the parish and
the other is United States senator. Are
they not worthy citizens of their section?
Otherwise how could they have attained to
their positions? Are they lacking in cour-
age. or in soliCitude for the safety and
honor of women? Were they Unemployed
In asking that the law take its course? Is
their action likely to encourage creatures
of british instincts In that locality to a
qualification OF their passions? Are women
there less safe because of the saving of
that wretch from the hands of a mob?
These questions answer themselves. All
honor to Senator Foster. to Judges Allen
and Smith. and to Sheriff Sanders. for ex-
ertins themselves in the interests of law
and order! They have shown themselves
to hc worthy of their commissions: and 1t
Is to such men that the country must turn
in this the hour of its grave peril for sup
port which will bring us back to a saner
and better order of things
Justice Brewer speaks soberly and truly
when he says that lynchers are murderers
No other view of the matter is consistent
with our Institutions. with our aspirations.
with the explanation of our civilization.
He is right. too, in predicting an early re-
action against conditions which have grown
to he curse To. and u reflection on the
whole country.