The Washington times., 1903-08-14
Chief Justice Lore De-
nOunceS LaWleSsness in
Speech Before Chautau-
qua Assembly in New York
TANGENT REPUBLICS
WRECKED BY ANARCHY
Jurist Asserts That the Grim
hal Elements of Com
munitieS Are Ever Found
in the LyncherS' Van,

$50 - - 49, - - -
CHAUTAUQUA. N Y. Aug. 14-Be-
fore the Chautauqua assembly today
Chief Justice Charles B. Lore. of the su-
preme court Of Delaware. delivered al
address which set forth the attitude Of
the courts of Delaware on the subject
OF lynching.- The chief justice said IN
part:
with US government means obedience
to law. Lawlessncss means anarchy
Mob law is anarchy pure and simple
Anarchy is the rock upon which all an
cient republics have ultimately been
wrecked and is today one of the most
threatening eveils for our republic.
A National Shame.
Strangely enough. just at this period
Of our national development, when by
unique Victories over oppression the
United States has dominant place over
the nations of the earth and time when
our Government seemed to be. most firm
~ rooted in public confidence, We have
been disgraced by some OF the most re-
voting and brutal exhibitions of MOP
violence recorded in history. Our sub
Ject is, therefore. one OF intense gravity.
Let US consider the mob spirit with
respect TO its origin, its effects. and its
remedies. The origin is not always
founded in evil. 1t often enlists men
who are pleased to call themselves the
respectable element Of society, and are
in the main well-meaning. Its incite-
ment is generally some real or imagin-
airy wrong or some aggravated crime.
Criminals on the Alert
I'm the moment OF unguarded passion
such men forget their duty to them
selves and society and lend countenance
and aid TO lawlessness. thoughtIess alike
of its consequences to themselves and
society. and thus taking the law into
their own hands. There is, however, a
percentage of every community whose
criminal lives tend TO lawlessness. This
element is constantly on the alert and
scents coming violence as sleuth hounds
scent blood.
when mob law prevails this element
furnishes the leaders of the mob and
the respectable element becomes a fol-
lower Of the most degraded. whose So
ciety under ordinary circumstances
would be Stunned with care as plague.
Free governments. where the people
are the sources of power, are much
more subject TO the mob spirit than
despotism or monarchies.
Our Freedom a Menace
I'm the latter a standing army is ever
at the command OF the despot TO crush
the mob. In the former the army is
part OF the people ordinarily and often
in sympathy with the mob. so that our
very freedom subjects US TO this form
OF evil
The people, in the mad frenzy OF the
moment lawlessly take back delegated
power. even though liberty regulated by
law receives thereby q deadly wound.
1t is a painful thought that this great
Government of ours has this elemental.
structural weakness with all its good.
The mob spirit viii continue TO exist in
free countries until all men learn that
our only safety is in obedience to law.
Moral Fiber Slapped.
I'VE pass from the origin Of mob
spirit to the evil effects of its exercise.
First. mob law saps the moral fiber OF
every participant in the lawless act, and
puts the most respectable Of the mob
on the same moral level as the most
degraded, for once they join hands both
clothe themselves with the garment of
crime. The most brutal and desperate
naturally take the lead. and respectable
men follow such leaders.
"Lawlessness breeds crime, and when
respectability and crime lie down to-
gether respectabiity wallows in the
mlre The man who violates law in any
case finds II easy TO add other violations
10 the list. He readily finds plausible
excuses for his violence until the time
comes when he needs no excuses at all
No self-respecting man can be active in
mob violence against law, order and de-
cency and retain his moral integrity.
He can never forget that he once
joined a cowardly mob in doing q cow
ardly act that he. as an individual.
alone would not dare to undertake. In
other words, he is a coward in his crime
Such man dare not stand forth in
court Of justice and avow his crime and
let the law take its course.
The more brutal the crime, the more
degraded the criminal, the more wide
spread and intense the public rage. the
more imperative IL is that courts of
justice should give calm, just and fair
hearing and that the guilt OF the ac-
cused be established; otherwise men
may be punished for 4 crime they did not
commit
The judges Of Delaware have no APPEL
ogy 20 make for net listening 10 suggee-
lions Of mob violence IN the case OF
George White There have been few
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