Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-08-11
DEGREES MOB RULE
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT SAYS VIC.
LENcE is A MENACE TO
THE NATION.
Writes to Governor Durbin of Indiana
and commends Him for His Stand in
Recent TroubIe-Georgia's Govern.
or Endorses the Letter.

Oyster Bay, Aug. 10.-In letter the
publication Of which is authorized,
President Roosevelts commends Gov.
Durbin Oh Indiana for the attitude he
assumed recently respecting lynch
ing. The President also embraces the
opportunity to express his own views
in reference to lynching and mob vio-
lence generally, pointing out that mob
violence is merely one form of an
archy and that anarchy is the fore
runner of tyranny.
The President vigorously urges that
the penalty for that crime which most
frequently induces a resort to lynch
ing shall be applied swiftly and sure
ly, but by due process of the courts,
so that it may be demonstrated that
the law is adequate to deal with
crime by freeing it from every vestige
of technicality and delay"
Extracts From Letter.
In his letter President Roosevelt
says:
Permit me to thank you as an
American citizen for the admirable
way in which you have vindiacted the
majesty of the law by your recent ac-
ton in reference to lynching. feel,
my dear sir, that you have made all
men your debtors whe believe, as all
far-seeing men must see that the we'll
being indeed, the very existence-of
the republic depends upon that spirit
of orderly liberty under the law which
is as incompatible with mob violence
as with any form of despotism. OF
course mob violence is simply one
form of anarchy, and anarchy is now,
as it always has been, the handmaiden
and forerunner of tyranny.
Acted Honorably.
81 feel that you have not only re-
fiected honor upon the state which for
it's good fortune has you as it's chief
executive, but upon the whole nation.
1t is incumbent upon every man
throughout this country not only to
hold up your hands in the course you
have beene following, but to show his
realization that the matter is one of
vital concern to us all.
Alarm Over Growth of Lynching.
"All thoughtful men must feel the
gravest alarm over the growth of
lynching in this country and especially
over the peculiarly hideous forms so
often taken by mob violence when col
ored men are the victims-on which
occasion the mob seems to lay most
weight not on the crime, but on the col
or of the criminal In certain pcopor-
ton of these cases the man lynched
has been guilty of a crime horrible be-
yond descriptions crime so horrible
that so far as he himself is concerned
he has forfeited the right to any kind
of sympathy whatsoever.
Gov. Durbin Replies.
indianapolis, Aug. 10.-Governor
Durbin today sent formal reply to the
letter he received yesterday from
President Roosevelt concerning the
recent mob at Evansville. Gov. Dur
bin says in part: 'cIn this instance,
as in other emergencies you have
spoken with the courage of conviction
and with the eloquence of earnestness
under the inspiration of clear under
standing and of devotion to the duties
and responsibility Of American citizen
ship"
Georgia's Governor Speaks.
Atlanta, Ca, Aug. 10-Gov. Tyrrell
today endorsed the contents of Presi-
dent Roosevelts letter to Governor
Durbin of Indiana. in regard to the re-
cent action of Durbin to prevent lynch
ings in that state. He said: 81 think
President Roosevelt is on the right
line and I am in hearty accord with
the views he expresses"