Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-08-18
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT Q
LYNCHING.
ON

One of the most Important articles
from the pen of President Roosevelt
recently is his condemnation of the
lynching evil contained in his letter
to Governor Durbin Of Indiana, COM
mending the latter's firm stand
in demanding the observ-
ance of law and order and the
administration of justice in connec-
ton with the Evansville riots. Presi-
dent Roosevelt embraces the oppor--
tunity to express his own views in
regard to lynching and points out that
mob violence is one form of anarchy
and that anarchy is the forerunner of
tyranny. In presenting his opinion
Mr. Roosevelt does not countenance in
the least an extenuation of punishment
for the crime which most often pro-
vokes lynching, but urges that in such
cases the machinery of justice be
speedily set in motion that adequate
and deserved punishment may be met.
ed out to the culprit.
President Roosevelt takes the broad
view that '.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." With
the people, whose representatives
make the laws, lies the choice of the
officers and judiciary to execute these
m easures, and it is from the people
that these officers must get moral sup
port in the performance of their duties.
There is not thoughtful American
citizen who does not condemn anar-
chy and these citizens should not for
get that mob violence is simply one
form of anarchy, and anarchy is now,
as it always has been, the handmaiden
and forerunner of tyranny"
"The growth of lynching in this
country, and especially the peculiarly
hideous forms so often taken by mob
violence when colored men are the vic
TINS" says President Roosevelt,
SHOULD receive the attention of all
thoughtful men," When the violator
of the law is a negro the vengeance of
mobs is often melted out, points out the
President, mot SO much on account of
the crime as because of the color of
the accused" 1t is not because the
atrocious crimes committed by the vic
tins of mobs should not be hideously
punished that right minded men depre
cate the lynch law, nor is it because
of any sympathy for the criminal. Mob
violence is condemned because
thoughtful citizens have a lively sense
of the terrible consequences which fol-
low in the wake of dealing out an
"inhuman vengeance for an inhuman
wrong"
President Roosevelt rightly sees in
the continuation of this inhuman prac-
tice grave menace to the perpetuity
of respect for law and the institutions
of our government.
To preserve the respect for law and
safeguard American liberty he holds
that "every effort should be made I'M
der the law to expedite the proceedings
of justice in the case of such an afro
cious crime. But it cannot be neces-
sary in order to accomplish this, to de-
prive any citizen of those fundamental
rights, to be heard in his own defense,
which are SO dear to us all and which
lie at the root of our liberty" He
urges that 'the best and immediate
efforts of all legislators, judges and
citizens he put forth to secure such
reforms in our legal procedure as to
leave no vestige of excuse for those
vengeance through violent methods"
President Roosevelt has clearly por-
trayed the conditions resulting from
the indulgence shown toward these
violators of the law. His remedial sug-
gestions are administered and should
meet the careful consideration of ev-
cry American citizen who is seeking
solution of this question.