The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-08-20
THE MOB SPIRIT.
How the General Public Could Aid I'm
Suppressing Ii.

To the Editor of the Indianapolis Journal:
When the State is threatened with an
epidemic of some malignant disease we
search more diligently for preventive
than for cure. The good name of the
State is threatened by mobocracy-a dis
ease which is more magiignant and fully as
contagious as smallpox. Individuals are
never justified in usurping the penal laws
of their country by taking the punishment
of crime into their own hands. The law
permits them to use. sufficient force TO
protect themselves and for the preservation
of their property, but such force is used to
prevent crime and not as punishment for
an act committed at some previous time.
"A MOB is collection of people for some
riotous and unlawful purpose" and the mob
spirit is vicious, brute force unrestricted
by the rules of action which govern civil
ICED human beings The goddess of justice
commands her legally authorized agents to
execute her Will In calm, dignified and
unprecedented manner Justice can never be
the logical result of mob force; two wrongs
cannot make one right The rule, Simil
similibuS curantur, Is fiat failure when
applied to crime. The precedent set by a
mob is always more dangerous to the well
fare of a community than the criminal il
seeks u punish or the wrong il attempts
to right. Many man has ''shrunk from
the dangers that threatened him and sac
rificed his duty and his conscience to the
menaces of q mob" All things are done
badly that are done with violence and pre-
cipitancy. The most important considera-
ton of every government should be the
well-being of the people, the establishment
OF order and security, and the diffusion of
social happiness. But this happy condition
is impossible in country where mob yio-
lence is a daily possibility and a constant
menace TO its peace; the laws are either in
adequate or the officers are dereIict i'm the
discharge of their duties. In addition to
a nd
labor. the race question and numerous
crimes the United States has TO contend
with thousands of foreigners, many of
whom are direct from the hOtbeds OF Euro
pean socialism-an element which requires
but little to incite il to the commission of
overt acts OF violence. These and many
other signs of the times should warn us OF
impending danger and admonish TO de-
wise ample precautionary measures. "A
stitch in time saves nine and IAN ounce
of prevention is better tier tia than pound of
eral of them in fact-by closing our doors
10 foreign immigration and by tightening
the lines on all officers of the law. For
the "Ounce of prevention / would prescribe
the organization OF a society composed of
Iaw-abiding citizens and having for it's
purpose the prevention and punishment of
crime. Fortunately, the lawless element is
so hopelessly in the minority that il could
be easily overdwed by a persistent show OF
activity on the part OF the law-abiding and
law-enforcins citizens. Mobs and lawless-
ness generally have been meeting with such
encoura ging passivity on the part of the
better element that the only wonder is that
conditions are not worse than they are.
Since il is clearly the duty of every eiti-
zen 70 render all pos: ible assistance in sIp-
holding the law. who could refuse TO sub
scribe 10 IN oath or declaration OF inten-
tons similar 10 the following: n. 4. B.. do
most solemnly promise and declare that |
will do all in my power to prevent the
formation Of mobs or the commission of
any other unlawful act IN Blank county
clare that ! viii render the authorities dli
the assistance in my power TO secure evil
dence against and bring TO justice any and
all violatoTs of the law In said county and
State? | believe that s. per cent OF the
voters IL Indiana would willingly subscribe
to a declaration similar TO the above. III
the officers OF the law knew that a large
majority OF their constituents had taken
ar obligation 20 help enforce the law there
would be a marked improvement over pres
ent conditions. The few who would refuse
to agree to dc their outy as good citizens
would know that they were being watched
by their neighhofs and would therefore hes
itate to openly violate the law. A mob IN
its earlier stages is easily dispersed by the
wise counsel of coCl-headed order-lovi
friends. but. If unrestrained. the mob spirit
grows stronger and stronger until its in
sane. animal passions predominant. after
which IL ~ ready 10 destroy property or
commit murder. Ii would be tho duty OF
an orgs nization similar 10 the one herein
suggested TO nip incipient mobs In the
qua anu MT tIcohrahe it'esh oy acung TIE
part of Interested spectators rs many good
people have been doing. Respect for and
obedience TO the law is the keystone which
upholds us as one of the great nations.
Without TX We would soon degenerate into
our original barbarous condition. Lynch
ing bees and Whitecap frolics can be
rendered "A future impossibihty and crime
OF all kinds reduced 10 the minimum In the
people will only act instead of wasting their
time III Blowing about what ought TO
be done Who will start the ball TO rolling
in the right direction? LIBERTY
New Castle Ind Aug Is