The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1903-08-13

populace still looks upon the punish
ment of the law as society's method
OF getting even. And when the law
is slow it sees nothing out Of place in
wreaking it's own vengeance upon Of
lenders Between the ordinary hang
ing and lynching the only dlifer-
ence to the average mind is a ques-
ton of formalities. The spirit is the
same. 1t is the thirst of blood for
Llood. If the state may strike back,
why not the mob? If it is proper to
take revenge why be fastidious about
the method? That is the unconscious
logic of the street.
Popular government is at stake.
Mob violence should be put down.
But we need, too, change of heart
in our attitude toward criminals. The
state as we'll as the mob, must know
that "ail revenge is crime" We still
believe as Whittier said:
s'in staying Murders hand
Py murder at that Laws command,
In Kentucky the other day two boys
were hung by the sheriff. | care not
v hat the crime of those children was,
the law which hung them was con-
ceived in hate; it was executed In the
spirit of revenge; and it made the
Judge and the jailor and the jurors
the accomplices in murder at the
laws command.
Here is the chamber Of horrors
where men are officially executed.
There is the lever by which the cur
rent is turned on. The guard will tell
you who last died there. This man
went to the chair protesting his in
rccence. That man went with curses
Gil his lips. One was Frustrated so
that they had to carry him. One near
ly succeeded in committing suicide
and robhing the law Of its mnrderous
function.
/ declare that in some respects the
murders committed in our penitentiar-
les are moro hateful than those COM
nitted by the mob. The law is more
or less deliberate in the choice OF its
victim. To that extent the Innocent
are protected. But if there is any
thing more dastardly than the vio-
Il nee of the mob it Is the cold, cal
6ulating, studied legal murder which
the state commits against social Of
tenders. For almost without exception
il is true that those who fill OR peni-
tentiaries and die on our scaffOlds are
among the disinherited of EARTH who
have been stunted in body and mind
Ey the crimes Of the law which pre-
SHINES to punish them.
The other night, after a torrid day,
walked through crowded section OF
cur city 1t was that part of the city
| under which the sewer mains pass
| which connect with the slaughtering
region. The people swarmed the
streets, and up into their nOstrils came
a sickening stencil. The sewer belched
its nauseOus gases into their very
| faces Men and women were spIawled
cut on the pavement like painting dogs
and little children we're sleeping near
man-holes which gagged me with their
poisonous yapors. Strangers to that
region have been known to sicken and
vomit on the street. BY mechanical
device which would cost the city a
! little money the most of that stencn
could be carried away. But the city
| has no money. Yet before our very
| eyes, men who have no visible means
Of support and whose only occupation
| is politics are building themselves
n ansions and amassing fortunes. Oul
''best citizens" without a blush OF
shame, acknowledge this public plum
| der and yet, for the sake Of favors
which they hope to receive, they hold
their peace.
Some hapless child whose only play
| gI6uTd has been over these bcichinf
Inan-holes, whose road to virtue ha:
been made hard and whose road t.
vice has been made easy by these pre-
| dstory politicians, with abundant ex
ampies before him Of rascaiity reward
cd and honesty punished, some child
arises from this human cess pool, ami
less discreet than his OppressOrs, com
rnits some crime which brings him t.
the penitentiary, perhaps to the gal
lows. How will you place RESPONSE
tility for that crime? Justice steps
between that youthful criminal, ani
the state and says: Let him that is
guiltless cast the first stone"
| How much better it would be fol
the state to set an example to the
mob, by going out of the hanging bus.
~~.sA L.