The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-07-11
GOOD OUT OF EVIL.

GOOD OUT OF EVIL.
The Evansville riot brought death to
nearly a dozen persons. some of them in
and put a stigma on the city that will not
be easily effaced. These results are very
deplorable. and yet 1t is possible the final
outcome Of the affair may be beneficent
TO good government. Providence sometimes
overrules events so as to bring good out
need of reform in the city government of
Evansville, and this deplorable affair may
start a movement that will bring it about.
One of the good results of the riot,
already widely commented on by the press.
was the prompt exercise of authority by
the State. showing that the law has be-
hind 1t power higher and stronger than
that welded by nerveless local officers,
rotten police boards and policemen who
sympathize with the criminal classes. The
press, with rare exceptions, is always on
the side Of law and order. 1t is opposed
to temporizing with robs, and it always
rejoices when a strong executive, whether
it be q mayor or q Governor, takes them
by the throat. In this case the mayor of
Evansville lost his opportunity because
like the police board, the police force and
the whole city government, he was emas-
culated by the poisonous atmosphere Of
corrupt politics which they had all been
breathing so long. His failure and that of
the sheriff to do their duty created an OPP
portunity for the Governor to make an ex-
hibition of State authority which is uni
versally commended and which has given
courage to the friends Of law and order
everywhere. Men see that there was need
of an exhibition of authority and force, and
that Evansville offered a ripe field for it
IF 1t had been demonstrated for years."
says the New York World, that at nine
jails in ten the country over Pluck stood
on guard. to be unfailingly backed in emer-
gencies by the organized representatives
OF authority, Mondays terrible lesson at
Evansville would not have been invited"
The Boston Journal thinks II fortunate that
there was no fooling with the mob after
the militia took hand. 1.-THE militia" it
says, who were called out to withstand
the mob, when the police were unequal to
the task, knew their duty and did It, The
bloodshed which took place is to be regret
ted. but it served the purpose of showing
that a mob. in a well-organized Northern
city. cannot usurp and overthrow the
orderly functions of law without getting
itself into trouble. That is a lesson which
greatly needed to be taught, and If Ii is
emphasized elsewhere with the promptness
and resolution shown at Evansville. we
shall have fewer outbreaks of similar vio-
lence." The Milwaukee Free Press says
the loss of life was deplorable. But" it
adds. 1.-The lesson was needed. 1t was need
ed not only in Indiana but in every State.
The people needed to be reminded that
there is power to enforce the law against
a lawless mob as well as against an indi-
vidual offender" The New York Sun con-
dennis the incompetence of the local
authorities and says: Governor Durbin
showed none of the weakness of so many
public officers who are afraid to injure their
political prospects by interfering with a
few thousand of their fellow-citizens. in
sane with negrophoba." And so through
out the country the press. voicing the SEN
timent of law and order people. rejoices
in the dispersion of the Evansville mob by
a power that represented something very
different from the polluted political atmos-
phere of the city.
The lesson is not for the local authorities
OF Evansville alone. That city has reaped
its whirlwind. but many other cities are
sowing the same seed Of lawlessness and
political debauchery. 1t is to be hoped that
few are as far advanced on the road to
municipal disgrace by coddling the criminal
classes as Evansville was. but many others
are moving in the same direction. II the
| Evansville riot shall serve to prove the fol-
| ly and danger OF such playing with fire II
may furnish new example of good out OF
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