The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-07-08

In a matter 30 serious as the Evansville
riot it Is useless to conceal facts or mince
words. The plain truth is that a compare
lively few lawbreakers and lawdehers have
brought disgrace upon that city and the
State of Indiana. and the good citizens are
to blame for not having made themselves
felt sooner and more effectively in favor
of law and order. Evansville is no worse
than the average American city OF it's size.
though being a border city it has a larger
proportion of colored inhabitants than
many others. and therefore offers a better
field for what Is popularity termed "a race
war" But. on the other hand. Evansville
is no better than the average American city
of it's size. There is the same vicious ele-
ment, numerically small but dangerous. the
same latent spirit of iawlessness. the same
false pretense of executing justice by sum-
mary methods, and the same lurking spirit
of brutality among the lower classes of
conditions exist to a greater less degree
In many cities and are liable to result in
violent outbreaks unless they are held in
check by a strict enforcement of law, sup
ported at all times by vigorous expression
OF public opinion from the better class of
ansville, who undoubtedly constitute a
large majority. are to blame for having
temporized with the lawless element and
tacitly encouraged its growth until 1t came
to fhaugurate open anarchy. Because there
was an unusual proportion of colored in
habitants the good citizens are more TO
blame for not having created a public sem
timent in favor of an impartial enforcement
OF law for all offenders without regard to
race or color. Once the idea is permitted to
take root in a community that any class of
citizens is not entitled to the full benefit of
the law, or that one class OF offenders
against the law should be dealt with more
summarily or severely than another class,
and that community is on the edge of an
archy. Discussion as to the origin of the
mob In Evansville is not in order. The stu
alton has got far away from that Admit
ting that the negro who killed Patrolman
Massey deserved punishment, there was no
excuse for the mob. The authorities had
given positive assurance that special pro-
ceedings should be instituted for the speedy
indictment and trial of the negro. and with
in very short time he would doubtless
have been hanged after a legal trial, thus
avoiding the unspeakable disgrace of two
days Of anard1y in the second largest city
in the State. The mob was the culmina-
ton of spirit of lawlessness that has
been fostering for years, and which not only
the good citizens of Evansville, but the con-
st:tuted authorities, have contributed to
promoting. Part of the responsibility rests
on every person who has failed to speak
out on all occasions in favor of the equality
OF ali classes before the law, of the equal
right of ell to legal protection and of the
necessity of maintaining the supremacy of
the law under any and all circumstances
The first step away from these principles
is a step towards anarchy. It must be
added that the sheriff and the police of Ev-
ansville were very slow in recognizing the
seriousness of the situation and adopting
effective measures to avert an outbreak
The loss of life is deplorable. but it is in
significant compared with the disgrace
which has been brought upon the city and
State.