Evening journal., 1903-08-14

peril.
The same may be said of the American
pulpit With few notable exceptions. the
pulpit has uniformly been on the side
of law, order and decency. In the George
White case already referred to a notable
example commands our admiration. DR..
Bishop. the father of the victim, his
daughter, dying Of horrible outrage with
the ~ Of the victim on the bier before
him, dictated a letter to the excited peo-
pie containing these words: "Our cup Of
bitterness is full, and we ask you TO join
us in our appeal to all citizens of our
commonwealth to refrain from violence
These words are worthy to be written in
letters OF gold and framed and hung up
In every American household, they
breathe essential christianity. This senti-
ment met the common approval Of the
ministers of gospel in Delaware there
was only one discoTdant voice A name
less seeker after notoriety. on the Sunday
next after the murder of Miss Bishop in
the open air almost within the shadow
of mis- church preached to a large crowd
of infuriated men and vulgary exhibited
leaves stained with the blood Of the vic
tim amid the cheers Of his auditors In
that sermon he is reported to have used
these words: SHOULD the murderer of
Miss Bishop be lynched? Yes! But only
under one condition and that is that If his
trial shall be delayed until September,
and then though he be proved guilty,
Through some technicality Of the law, or
any undue influence either upon the
judges or the jury. he be not given capital
punishment then the citizens Of the State
should arise in their might and thus up
hold the majesty Of the law" The next
night the mob took the advise to lynch
White only disregarding the conditions.
The wllful taking OF human life other
than by due process of law is murder.
/ Lynching by a mob Is murder. Yet this
minister OF the gospel advised lynching.
The Sixth Commandment says: Thou
shalt not kill" With little study Of his
Bible he might find the words. Vengeance
IS mine, and / will repay saith the Lord
Fortunately such disgraceful utterances
were confined to one man and am glad
to say that he is not a native of Della
ware. How baneful this advice may have
been do not know. and only detail the
circumstance to contrast his conduct with
that OF the other ministers of the State
and With the conduct of the father OF the
victim. II Is the duty of every good citizen
at all places and at all times to insist
that the law shall take its course. Our
danger is too much liberty, not too little.
We are receiving from fhe Old World
yearly, large bodies OF immigrants. some
of whom unfortunately have the widest
notions of the extent OF the American
freedom TO do as they please. Anarchy
turks under the pleasing garb of liberty,
and the assassin clothes himself as
defender Of human rights. Lawlessness is
/ D. for he Ia
obedience to her mandates is our safety.
strong and masterful sentiment of
such obedience to law is a sure cure for
mobs. Ii cuts UP the evil at the root. 1t
furnishes soil on which no 3awlessness
can flourish.
Must Not Aid Mob Spirit.
No order loving citizen can afford 10
encourage the mob spirit either before or
after deeds Of violence. There should be
no words OF encouragement, no ostenta-
tious Offering Of bail for such persons
when arrested, no fawning favor for the
law breaker. however much ne may be
pitied.
Your association in its wide sweeping
field of labor. along healthy educational
lines is potent in framing such public SEN
ument.
believe with United States Judge
Brewer, THAT there is going to be re-
action against the atrocious crime with
which the papers have been filled The fact
that the people are now interesting them
selves in the discussion of this problem
makes it manifest that there is a tendency
toward change. I expect it will come
soon"
> Let me hope that through the efforts
Of the Chautauqua Association that
change may come speedily.