Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-09-10
Bishop Gamblers Strong Words.

Bishop Gambler of the Southern Metho-
dist Church. and at one time president of
Emory College. Georgia, has just expressed
some very decided opinions about mObs and
their defenders. Lynch law. he forcibly de-
clares. Is anarchy, and must be dealt with
such IL the country is to be saved from
the greatest and most far-reaching conse-
quences He makes strong point in this:
In defense of lynching 1t is sometimes
said: Stop the Outrages that provoke lynch
ing and the lynching will cease But.
pray. tell which outrage is meant? If ref
erence to the horrible crime of rape is in
tended it is enough to say in reply that 1t
is not the cause of one-fourth of the lynch
ings which occur in the United States. Two
years since, for example. the figures for
year showed only sixteen cases of ravish-
ings against Us lynchings. Lynch law. l
repeat. is anarchy, and anarchy is always
the forerunner Of destruction In republics.
This evil strikes at the very heart of our
civil institutions. If unchecked it will in
crease and eventually become uncomfortable
by the vicious even. Men will grow SO
weary of It that they will welcome any sort
of strong hand which will undertake to put
1t down. even the hand of tyranny.
The bishop deplores the way this subject
is too often treated both by writer's for the
press and by politicians In Office. After a
fling at those who fill space in dull seasons
with poorly digested articles, he goes on to
say:
And then. too, the Chautauqua season is
a very dangerous period of the year, espe
cially during those months when the Con-
gress of the United States Is not In session.
and the thrifty statesman who Is deficient
out for the stuff and when platform man
ayers. who have an eye for gate receipts
only. are out hunting for drawing sensa-
tionalists. without regard for the kind OF
things
pour out of their easy-acting mouths.
What a pity that these men undertake
TO handle matters so serious and so com.
plexi Yea, what peril! A venturOuS
sportsman discharging firearms in a powder
house would not be greater menace to
good order and security"
But not every statesman who discusses
this subject before Chautauquas us def
Cient in a sense of responsibility for his
words" Take the case of Senator Tillman.
He is very outspoken-quite apostle of
riot. indeed He not only gives advice. but
experience. He is no mere mouther, indulg
ing in extravagances simply to hear himself
talk. or swell the total OF gate-receipts. He
presents himself as one who has done
things. He has reached very high office
and controls the political machinery of a
sovereign state by methods he describes
with pride and pleasure. He speaks upon
the responsibility of a seat in the United
States Senate, obtained by the very means
he recommends to others. Mr.. Tiilman. in
talking about mobs. is a very responsible
man. He stands Endorsed at home for all
that he has done in the mob line And,
what is more, his victims were guilty of
no crime but that of being American cit-
zens
But Bishop Gamblers words should have
much influence for good wherevar MAN rH
thinking about the evils of lynch law. His
standing a cleric and as an educator is
high. and what he says will strengthen the
resolution of men in office charged with
the execution of the laws of the land. He
sees clearly on the main point and ex-
presses himself with refreshing vigor.