The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1903-08-20
MOB LAW.

"Mob law" Is being discussed as
never before in the history Of our ma
ton. Formerly it was only the
"nigger" In the south and the horse
thief In the wild and woolly west,
who was lynched. Now the efiete
east comes to the front with its
quota OF lynchings and they burn a
negro at the stake to show what they
can do when thoroughly aroused.
G Jvernor Durham, OF Indiana, made
an effort to have lynchers in that
state indicted snd punished and
President Roosevelt wrote him q long
letter commenting his course and
condemning in the severest language
mob law in all its forms.
From the rostrum, the pulpit, the
press, the supreme bench, comes a
discussion OF mob law and its evils
and offering suggestions for It's cure.
Justice Brewer, Of the U. 8. Su.
preme court advocates a speedy trial
without right Of appeal In cases
which seem to justify mob law.
John Temple Graves, q noted
Georgia lecturer, in commenting
upon Mr.. Roosevelt's letter, says:
1.-THE mob knows It's business and
the mob does its work. And the mob
to day is the sternest, the strongest
and the most effective restraint that
the age holds for the control OF the
monstrous crime which Il avenges
The lyncher does not exterminate the
rapist, but holds him nightly in
check. 1t is folly to protest against
this truth. Without the mob there
would be a hundred assaults where
there is one. Without the mob the
south to-day would not be a place to
live in. Thousands OF vicious negroes
halt in terror before the blazing an
ger and the fiery vengeance OF the
mob. Criminal? Yes. Lawless? Yes.
Ought to be abolished? II possible,
yes. But as a sheer, cold, patent
fact, the mob stands to-day as the
highest, strongest and most potent
bulwark between the women OF the
south and such carnival oi crime
as would infuriate the world and pre-
cipitate the humiliation OF the negro
race. 1t is not a pleasant thing to
say. 1t is not a popular thing to
say. But it is the only true thing to
say"
The noted evangelist Sam Jones
when asked what he thought OF the
Presidents letter on lynching and
John Temple Graves reply toit, said:
81 think both are right. Mob law
is anarchy, and the salvation OF this
country is In maintaining a respect
for law. But the one defense OF lynch
ing, which the South gives, has plaus-
Utility in it. The Southerners do not
want the woman who is a victim OF
a black brute to be compelled to 20
into court and submit to the cross
examination OF a lawyer for the de-
tense and tell the horrible details OF
the crime.
1.-The way to stop lynching is to
stop the assaults. No attempt is
made to excuse lynching for other
crimes.
"The chain gang and the Peniten-
tiary bring no disgrace to the south
ern negro. When a negro returns
rom prison, his journey is like a
march of triumph. Heloses no stand
ing among the people OF his own race
by reason Of his Imprisonment.
"John Temple Graves is right
when he said that II we stoplynching
The South will witness a carnival of
rhine that will result in the extermin-
alton OF the negro race. l do not de-
end lynching, but the way to stop
ynching is to stop the causes This
= not political question. nor ques-
ion, nor a race question, but a ques-
lion OF the main crime"