The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-08-10

isSencouraged by every case OF lynching
in which the lynchers go unpublished 20
himself take the law into his own nanus'
whenever II suits his own convenience.
In the same way the use Of torture by
the mob I'm certain cases Is sure 20 spread
until II is applied more or ess indiscrmi-
nately I'm other cases. The spirit or law
lessness grows with what u ieeos on,
and when mobs with impunity iynen
criminals for one crime. they are GER
tain 10 begin 10 lynch real or alleged
criminals for other causes
In the recent cases OF lynching over
three-fourths were not for rape at all, put
for murder. attempted murder ana even
less heinous offences
Moreover. the history "of these recent
cases shows the awful fact that when
the minds of men are habituated 10 the
use of torture by lawless bodies 10 avenge
crimes OF a peculiarly revolving deserip-
ton other lawless bodies Will use torture
in order 10 punish crimes of an ordinary
type.
Surely no patriot can fail TO see the
fearful EQUALIZATION and debasement
which the indulgence OF sueh spirit ana
such practices inevitably poriend
DENoUNCE SUCH CRIMES
Surely all public men. all writers for
the daily press, all clergymen, all teach
ers. all who i'm any way have right
10 address the public. should with every
energy unite 10 denounce such crimes
and 10 support those engaged in putting
them down.
AS people We claim the right TO speak
with peculiar emphasis for freedom and
for fair treatment Of all men without re
gard TO differences OF race. fortune, creed
or color. We forfeit the right, so 20
speak. when we commit or condone such
.f oh I
.sFfhe-HatieH- like the individual. cannot
commit a crime with impunity. If We
are guilty Of awlessness and brutal vio-
lence whether our guilt consists in ac-
tive participation therein or In mere con-
nivance and announcement. we shall as
suredly suffer later on because OF what
we have done
The cornerstone OF this republic, and
OF all free governments, Is respect Tor
and obedience 10 the law.
Where we permit the law 10 be defied
or evaded whether by rich man or poor
man, by black man or white. we are by
just so much weakening the bonds OF our
civilization and increasing the chances
OF its overthrow and OF the substitution
therefore OF a system In which there
shall be violent alterations OF anarchy
and tyrrany. Sincerely yours,
THEODORE ROOSEVELT
Hon. Winfield T. Durbin.
Governor Of Indiana. indianapolis, Ind
KILLED AN OFFICER.
The letter az commentator to Gov
Durbin refers TO his attitude concern
ing the race riot at Evansville. Ind in
which he called out the militia and
threatened TO declare martial law. The
prisoner was thus protected from vio-
lence, although the Jail was surrounded
by mob bent on lynching him.
The trouble was started by the shoot
ing Of Louis n. Massey. a popular pa
trolman. who was lying in wait to arrest
Lee Brown, a troublesome negro, who
had threatened 10 Kill another negro
with whom he had quarrelled, and had
gone after q revolver
The frenzied negro turned his revolver
on the officer and trouble resulted ip-
mediately on his death July 3. Mobs
gathered and the disturbance was SWELL
ed by the excitement and liberty" of
the Fourth The situation became so
grave that the militia was called out
July 8.
Attempts 10 terrorize the negroes re-
suited In shooting on the streets, The
principal clash came July g. when the
militia protecting the Jail resisted the
crowd that urged against II.
They had been ordered by the governor
to protect the prisoner AT all cost, and
they finally fired point blank into the
crowd. instantly killing seven people and
I'm Turing two more so that they died.
The prisoner was subsequently removed
TO the jail at Vincennes and then TO JEFF
ferson. and several more companies of
militia were ordered out, until the dis
turbance was suppressed.
The governor criticised the sheriff Sc
verely. claiming that the trouble would
never have happened II he hao done his
duty and had not relied entirely on the
state authorities.