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

Oyster Bay, ~. Y, Aug l0-in a letter.
the publication Of which was authorized
yesterday, President Roosevelt COM
mends Gov. Durbin Of Indiana for the
attitude he assumed recently respecting
lynching. The president also embraces
the opportunity 10 express his own
views in reference to lynching and mob
violence generally. pointing out that mob
violence is merely one form OF anarchy.
and that anarchy is the forerunner OF
tyranny.
The president vigorously urges that the
penalty for that crime which most fire.
quently induces a resort TO lynchng
shall be applied swiftly and surely. but
by due process of the courts so that 4
may be demonstrated that the law is
adequate to deal with crime by freeing
II from every vestige Of technicality and
delay"
President Roosevelt's letter in full to
Gov. Durbin follows
THE PRESIDENTS LETTER.
Oyster Bay. n Y
Aug. 6, 1908
Ny Dear Governor Durbin:
Permit me 10 thank you. as an Amer
lean citizen for the admirable way in
which you have vindicated the ma iesty
OF the law by your recent action in ref
erence 10 lynching.
feel, my dear sir. that YOU have made
all men your debtors who believe as all
farseeing men must. that the well being.
indeed the very existence OF the repub-
Tic depends upon that spirit OF orderly
liberty under the law which Is as in
compatible with mob violence as with
any form of despotism OF course mob
violence Is simply one form OF anarchy.
and anarchy Is now. as II always has
been. the handmaiden and forerunner OF
tyranny.
CAUSE FOR ALARM
! feel that you have not only reflected
honor upon the state which for it's good
fortune has you for chief executive but
upon the whole nation IL Is incumbent
upon every man throughout this country
not only TO hold up your hands I'm the
course you have been following. but TO
show its realization that the matter Is
one of vital concern 20 us all
All thoughtful men must feel the
Rravest alarm over fhe growth OF lynci-
ing In this country. and especially over
the peculiarly hideous forms so often
taken by mob violence when colored men
are the victims--on which occasions the
mob seems 20 lay most weight. not on the
crime but on The color Of the criminal
In certain proportion OF these cases
the man lynched has been guilty ~
crime horrible beyond description. q
crime 80 horrible that a. FAR az he him.
self is concerned he has forfeited ~,
right 20 any kind Of sympathy what's.
ever
The feeling ~ all good citizens that
such hideous crime shall not be hiI.
eCusly punished bv mob violence ie duo
not IN the least 10 sympathy FOR the Grim
inal bat 20 a very lively sense ~ no
train of dreadful consequence which fol
Tow the course taken BY the mob I'M %
acting inhuman vengeance for an i-.
human wrong
In such cases moreover II IL well 10
remember that the criminal not ra-,iv
sins against humanity In incxpla5ie and
objectionable fashion. hut sins parti.r-
larry against his own race. and does tho'n
n wrong far greater than any white man
tan possibly DO them.
CoLoRED PEOPLE TO HELP
Therefore In such cases. the col1-od
prUpfe- throughout land stuuih---
every fcssible way show their belief t,s I
they more than all others in ite
community are Mortified az the commis-
sion of such n crime and are Decuihrl.
concerned IN taking every possible meas-
ure % prevent its recurrence and % htinf
ne criminal 20 immediate justice.
The slightest lack OF vigor either 10