Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1903-07-29
Punish The Murderers.

Another Illinois mob has broken
down all the barriers erected for the
preservation of peace and order. and
taking the law into it's own hands. has
wreaked vengeance upon negro who
has first been rendered fra tic and
driven to murder. The mob was organ
lied for the purpose of Furnishing
black man who had been accused of
committing an assault. On the way to
the Jail the rioters met another colored
man upon the street and trouble ensued
during which the negro killed a white
man, Then came the lynching of the
negro, followed by the burning Of the
body for the qualification OF the fend-
ish, insane passion of the riotera.
AS every crime of this kind that is
committed simply makes it easier to
commit another it is about time that
steps were taken to check the further
spread OF lynch law by applying the
remedy which Justice Brewer of the
United States Supreme court pointed
out by inference during his recent
visit to Milwaukee. If the governors
OF states where outbreaks of this char
acter occur will but take steps to bring
into court for trial and punishment
those who are guilty of murder-for
Justic Brewer says lynching is murder
and if they will take steps also to see
that actions are commenced against the
cities whe re such lawless outbreaks
occur, it will not take great while to
bring about change. The power which
the statutes Of most states give to gov
errors to remove judicial and peace Of
ficers who refuse or neglect to perform
their duties is all that is required to
force such officers to move when oc-
casio1 demands. With the militia to
enforce his lawful orders and with the
sentiment of an overwhelming majority
of the citizens of his states behind him,
governor who will not at least make
an effort to maintain peace, to protect
from violence persons charged with
having committed crimes and to assert
the dignity of the law and to insure its
orderly enforcement, is not fit to be
governor of an American state.
There can be no questioning the truth
of the statement that the immunity
from responsibility for lawless acts has
in great measure, contributed to the
spread of lynching until it threatens to
become national disgrace. In cities all
over the land the few reckless charac-
ters, partly inspired by vicious impul-
ses and partly by weak sentimental
| ism which is mistaken for virtuous re-
sentiment aroused by crime, take pos.
session Of the streets whenever a negro
is accused of an offense great or small,
and the crime of murderi is committed
Justice Brewer calls it murder. No
right minded person will contend that
it is not murder. But in no case are
those who commit the crime bro -gbt
to the bar TO answer to the law for
their acts. The fact that nothing is
done to punish the guilty persons leaos
to outbreakes in other places when
ever opportunities are offered.
Newspapers may moralize upon the
growth and spread of lawlessness until
the crack of doom, but they will accom-
plish no good until the civil authorities
take a hand in the proceedings and
hold to strict account every man who
dares to interpose between the courts
and those charged with offenses. It is
a waste of words to talk about educat-
ing the people up to a moral standard
that will make lynching impossible.
The people. as people are now educat-
ed up to a standard that condemns with
out equivocatiOn or evasion all lawless-
ness of the character mentioned. but
the rough element. the men who organ
ize, lead, and participate in such out
breaks, are not susceptible of education
The only influence that will act upon
them and restrain their vicious tenden-
cies is the strong arm of the law. They
are like other criminals, and thew will
persist in their courses until steps are
taken to check them Or to put them
where they can do no more harm.
Let dras tic measures be applied and
let word go out that there will be no
more temporizing with lynchers, but
that every man who participates in
''lyIching bee'' will be tried for murd-
er and punished if convicted. and the