The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-18
THE MOB SPIRIT.


Prof. Franklin H. Giddings, in Forum
Extensive observations of mob action in
many countries. in many periods. has
shown that, irrespective of race. the ag-
gregation of men in crowds is. in and of
itself, highly favorable to impulsive, un-
reasoning and often violent action. Men
in crowds are easily influenced by sugges-
ton, and in the mass a sense of individual
responsibility is lost So far, then, the in
creasing density of modern populations is
seemingly favorable TO popular tumult
which might easily become insurrection or
revolution. In the literature of political
science there is perhaps no more familiar
assumption than the one which associates
all the dangers of the mob spirit with a
democratic organization of great cities.
And yet n strict application of the COM
paratiVe method to the study of this queS-
ton does not justify the apprehension. On
the contrary, systematic grouping of OBJ
servat.ons from many parts of the world
would demonstrate that the phenomena of
lawless popular action, as in instructions,
lynchings and riotous outbreaks in connec-
ton with labor strikes. are. on the whole.
phenomena of rural rather than of urban
populations. There have been scenes of
wild violence in Paris and in London; there
have been draft and other riots in New
York city, but the collective violence in all
the great cities of Europe and America
for 200 years would not make a great
showing by comparison with the epidemics
of emotion-accomparied by dancing and
other manias-that surged through rural
communities in connection with the great
revival movements under the Wesleyans.
the later REVEALS of 1887 and 1857, the in
surrections like Shays rebellion and the
whisky rebellion, the Ku klux Khan out
RACES, the vigilance committee activities,
the conflicts between gentiles and Nor
mons, the whitecap outrages and the lynch
ings in our Western and Southern States.
The reason for this curious fact Is I'M
doubtedly to be found in the restraining
effect of ethnic and mental difference. The
eous. The ''neighbors'' for miles in every
direction are nearly all of one blood. They
practically of one economic condition.
For the most part they are of one re-
ligious confession or of two or three con-
fessions not very unlike in creeds and
practices. All are acquainted with one an
other An exciting event or suggestion that
moves one will, almost certainly, move the
Others. Emotion among them is highly
contagious. They respond TO like stimuli
because they are alike. The city population
is composite and differentiated. In a mixed
crowd of hundreds that gathers on the
street no one man of them all recognizes a
dozen others They are of all sorts and
conditions. the well-to-do and the poor. and
often of many Municipalities. Danger arises
only when discomfort and infiammatory
suggestion find homogeneous material to
work upon i'm quarter whose deniZens are
: of one nationality and of the same eco
nomic condition, and among whom may be
found, here and there, small gangs of
toughs who are already disciplined in ASSOC
ciating for lawless purposes. Only an ex-
traordinary influence can combine the i'm
pulsive tendencies of unlike classes. differ
ing nationalities, unacquainted neighbor-
hoods, in one great outbreak Such things
have happened, and doubles will happen
again; but the normal influence of hetero-
geneity and differentiation in a populations
unfavorable to collective action.