Evening journal., 1903-06-25
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE
MUST ACKNOWLEDGE
SUPREMACY OF LAW

TO the Editor OF the Evening Journal.
Now that those who wickodly incltcd
the infuriated mob to the lawless lnva-
sion OF the workhouse and the muir
derous lynching of the negro White.
begin TO realize the enormity and
criminal responsibility of their heinous
oiiense, they seek to excuse their
execrable conduct by the plea that the
lynching would not have occurred If
the court had ordered an Immediate
trial and secured "a swift and sure pun~
ishment. But this is manlfestly as un-
true as il is insncere. and, besides. as
cowardly as IL IS unjust.
No sensible citizen in view OF the
abhorrcnt nature OF the foul and fend-
ish crime, and of the universal horror.
Indignation and fury aroused by il, now
doubts that the frenzied and innamed
populace had resolved to take the law
into their own hands, and not to leave
II TO the courts, no matter how speedy
its action might be-.
But even IL the pretense wme true
that the court made mistake i'm not
hurrying on a quick and sure Il ial and
punishment yet the courts alleged
mistake would not justify the lynching.
NO mistake OF the court could Justify
or excuse the lawless assault upon the
county workhouse and the brutal and
horrible murder of the negro White,
even If the confessed ravisher and mur-
derer of his hapless victim.
But did the court make any judicial
mistake i'm deciding to leave the in
dictment and trial of the accused negro
to the sitting Of the regular September
term, In view of the universal horror.
Indignation and wrath pervading this
entire county and even the whole
State?
Was IL reasonable to suppose that
this inhamed condition of the public
feeling would subsde and the public
mind become calm and tranquil enough
Tor many weeks to come TO make the
selection of an impartial jury and
fair trial possible before the regular
September term of court-only three
months distant?
II not then the judges, by forcing an
earlier trial. would have been false to
their oaths of office to support the
Constitution OF their state, which ex-
pressly guarantees to the accused
Again, II they had called the special
court to meet under this universally
prevalent condition of infiamed and
unreasoning public sentiment the ac-
cused would have the legal right TO
have the trial postponed. or else re-
moved to another county. and accord
ingly, il could not in all probability.
have taken place i'm any event. sooner
than the regular September term.
Unfortunately both the press and
the public have undertaken to decide
and comment upon a question OF the
gravest Importance where they have
neither the special knowledge nor long
practical experience Of the judges.
The result is that i'm the desire for
swift and sure punishment of a foul
and fiendish crime they have urged a
hurried trial, not only inconsistent
with the due and orderly administra-
ton of justice, but with the protection
Of the innocent when wrongly accused,
and, failing to obtain IT, have con-
sciously or unconsciously. contributed
to this horrible tragedy, which has un-
dermned the temple of justice. dis
honored our State and introduced law
less anarchy for the time being. with
/
under like circumstances hereafter.
Either we must have government
of law, or of the mob. We can not
maintain a government of law without
strict and steadfast regard for the
law and its chosen ministers.
Either the courts or brute force
must be the final arbiter
The courts and their established
I Nrn.as
maintained. not only for the fair trial
of the guilty, but also for the protec-
tion Of the innocent, when wrongly
suspected, or unjustly accused.
The court, which at the behest OF tn,
tyrant, or the demand of the infuriatet
mob, fears and fails to see that a fail
and just trial is given TO the accused
whether guilty or innocent, is not onl,
craven to its duty, but slays justice II
her own temple.
The popular demand for swift tria
and speedy punishment, under circum
stances which preclude a fair aud dis
passionate trial before an independent
and impartial jury. is virtually
when stripped of its false mask, bu
the behest Of the infuriated populac
that the courts shall try and punis
according to mob law.
Deplorable as is lynching by tn
4 mob, judicial lynching is far worse
D not only in its baneful example, but 8
its far-reaching and irreparable conse
quences.
. The one may injure and undermin
d the cause of justice, but the latter ut
r terly blights and destroys IL.
The plea that the mob was justifie
, or excused in resorting to lynch la
u because the court refused to partici
pate in a judicial lynehing. is therefor
e as false as it is pernicious. and shoul
~ be promptly rebuked by all thoughtfl
citizens and true friends of the goo
q name and welfare Of our state.
IS Law.