The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-09-30
LAWLESSRiSS RAMPANT.
The Rule of the Mob---'.The
Law the Creature of Pub
lie Sentiment"---Th
Teachings of
History.
For The Messenger.

GOL LII 11t08CAA6O"
The Richmond Times-Dispatch OF the
18th instant, had a brief but very for
chile editorial depioring the spread OF
Iawlessness throughout the n and
calling attention to a statement re-
Gently sent out from chicago to the
effect that there is a veritable reign
OF outlawry in that city and the cause
Of it is not hard to find" The Rich
mond Times-Dispatch continues:
Chicago is famous for the number
Of strikes and for the lawlessness Of
the strikers and their sy~mpathizers.
Invariably where there is a strike there
Is a reign of terror The law is openly
defed, and it has too often happenei
hat policemen have been in sympathy
with the strikers. 'Lawlessness begets
lawIessness.' Every time there is open
contempt of law in any community the
IawIess element is rallied. and with fire.
quent demonstrations Of this charac-
ter the Iawless element becomes more
and more aggressive.
The law has no inherent strength,
The law is the creature Of public sell
timent, and unless il be sustained by
public sentiment il viii become a dead
letter. This is as true of Chicago.
Boston and New York Is it IS true or
other cities and other communities.
These Iawless demonstrations in the
various sections OF the country are Z
disgrace to our civilization and the
time has come for law-abiding citizens
in all sections to take definite and de-
cded action against the mob. 1t is no
sectional question, and il i'll becomes
" % 49, -antfnn 70 Dnfnf Nhc
finger of scorn at the people of another.
Lawlessness seems to be in this g
a national diesease as broad as the
United states and we as a nation must
stamp it out or it will be our undoing-"
1t is truly a startling declaration
tina ''lawlessnesS in this age is a nat
iOnaI disease" but the lamentable fact
stares thoughtful people in the face.
1t is seen in the south, in the perpe-
tration of one form of crime, the very
mention of which revolts and sickeaS
the soul, and in the punishment Of that
crime by a violence that mocks the due
process of courts and the regular adj
ministration of justice-a process and
an administration too often slow, shut
hing and inadequate. 1t is seen in the
great manufacturing centers OF the
north and the west, in outbreaks of or
ganized labor, which, while rejecting
the employment offered, will suffer
none others to work-an organized Ia
Dor too often goaded to disturbance ana
desperation by grasping and exact.ng
capital.
1t would look at first as if it We're
far to seek to go back forty d years
to find the pestiferous germ which has
expanded into this UpaS tree OF law
~lessness but I believe that we can trace
the beginning in the terrible Civil war
of our years between the two great
sections of this country. Men and
-H,,n nDnnrinnnn6 ~ T1IInh nnd on
dured such provocation, suffered such
sorrow and woe that they said n to
another, after this the deluge," and
became infected with a spirit of reck-
~lessness, while familiarity with death
engendered callousness to all forms Of
human distress-cOnditions of mind
which prevail in some degree to the
present day.
This unsettling of mental and moral
equilibrium showed itself at first in
comparatively unimportant things-ir
Indifferent outward form and ceremO-
ny, and in a laxity of conduct border
ing on license. The social observarl-
days sometimes, perhaps, too stiltiSh
and artificial, were swept aside, to
give place to a freedom of department.
which. though innocent in intention,
was harmful and demoralizing IN eff
feet. The sexes made a law unto them
III I'll In O-1O -NAof NN~-
were Familiarity addressed without
their titles, which are at least the out
ward tokens of respect. and on the
other han women were approached
without the Difference that is in itself
both tribute and homage. Think OF q de-
Gently raised man, in the courtly days
of Alexander Hamilton and Washing
ton. or even when William A. Graham
and George E. Badger were in their
prime in North Carolina. sitting in q
parlor, Or walking on the street, with
a well-bred woman, smoking a cigar
or cigarettei Yet this looseneSS of be-
havior is so common now that it pro-
Vokes no comment. And 50 this care
leSsnesS of demeanor permeated all
classes of society, ever widening and
proclaiming itself in b-oisterousness at
public ~assemblages and political and
other gatherings-dntil one may sue
cinctly describe it as the shirt sleeve
era.
Yes. all across this Fin de steele
civilization the spirit Of lawlessness
has left it's trail in the blood of
he street riot and the mid
night murder, of lynch law and the
neighborhood vendetta. The other day
whe the news reached Fayetteville
that the Wilmington Light Infantry
had prevented the lynching of two ne
groes charged with the horrible crime
OF the assault and murder of Mrs.
L dChST dI N1dIh (OAs q =
Zen-a good, noble hearted man. too
exclaimed: "I wish that company had
been one hundred miles away!" And
do you know, that man expressed the
sentiment Of my own heart, for I was
just then wishing the same thing. This
is h spirit of lawlessness-there is no
Disgusting that.
Hear the words Of warming from the
lips Of Judge Cook in passing sentence
on the two whites after the late trial
at Salisbury:
This court feels impelled to say that
neither personally nor as exponent OF
the law, can it at all allow that
man has the right to take the law into
his own hands. even for the cause of
seduction, or for any other cause. 1t
will be admitted that IN North Carroll
IA a fair trial can be had in every
ease and that men who deserve it will
be punished by the method Of the law.
And the law makes provisions for Sc