New-York tribune., 1903-07-10
NO COMPRoMIsE WITH M0RS-

Governor Durbn of Indiana is enforcing a
policy which may possibly bring him as much
honor as came to Senator Cushman X Davis
for his blunt declaration to the apologists for
the Debs riots that they were coming danger
ously near giving aid and comfort to the enc
mics Of the United States. His conduct is SO
in contrast with that frequently observed on
the part of officials in the face Of any sort of
popular lawlessness that it is worthy of COM
ment
Mayors, sherffs and Governors are likely to
get a notion that stern enforcement of law is
politically dangerous Mobs have votes, and so
mobS are played with up to the last minute
when it is too late to restrain them, and then
allowed to go unpunished for their offences
That policy however, is really not good politics.
much as timid time servers affect it. No Of
hcial ever achieved fame by weakly surrender
Ing his trust Many an official has, on the other
hand, become popular hero by defying the
enemies OF law. Andrew Jackson will go down
to history for his threat to hang Calhoun John
A. Dix and Jeremiah S. Black are ever held IN
an honor which was never attained by James
Buchanan, their chief, who doubtless meant as
well as they did, but did not have the nerve to
use his power. Governor Durbins absolute re-
fusal to take one step to meet the mob'S desires
is stand for the American system of ordered
liberty over which every good citizen must
rejoice.
The negro who shot policeman long since
ceased to be primary object of riotous demon
stratiOns in Evansville. Still, his immediate re-
turn there and trial under military guard would
have been an extraordinary procedure. invoIv-
ing some concession by the law to A IawIess
situation. Governor Durbin declines to permit
this. He says:
hN- Fty,r-4 o. 49,
suggested, to confess to the world that in the
second city of Indiana the law has not been
enforced in an orderly manner without the
presence of troops. Nor do I desire to compro-
mise FOR moment with the mob spirit.
Therefore he says that the negros trial must
be postponed until order is fully restored and
he can make his defence without the need of
military protection before jury which will re-
spect his legal rights and not be Swayed by pas
sions or popular demonstrations He adds sig
nifcantly that if at any stage of the procedure
it appears that any efforts are being made to
interfere with the orderly processes of govern
ment, then the State will be ready to give
further demonstration of its disposition to do
with rioters as they deserve
1t is encouraging to find the press of Indiana
and of Evansville itself upholding the Governor
and his suppression of the mob, and making no
such silly apologies as have come from Della
ware about the unreadiness of the law to do
justice unaided by rioters. At Wilmington the
original action of the judges, which some have
criticised as the cause Of the burning was
taken for exactly the same reason as that given
by Governor DUrbin for delay. The Iynchers
said they wanted a speedy trial 1t was not a
speedy trial, but speedy condemnation which
they wanted, and they did not care in the least
whether fair trial. with due regard for the
culprits legal rights, could be secured or not
The judges knew it could not be- and in obedi-
ence to their duty as servants Of the law de-
clined to push on the trial out Of the usual
course in the presence Of a maudened popula-
ton. They were right, as Governor Durbin is
right, and by and by the hysteric minister and
others who called for lynching because law
would not make itself an equally facIe instru-
ment of popular passion may learn something
of the meaning Of constitutional guarantees.