The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-08-17
sHERlFFs FEAR VOTES, NOT LEAD.

Recently there has been disposi-
ticn in some quarters to criticise the
Governor for not doing more to en-
force the laws and to bring to justice
those criminals who unite in mobs to
commit murder, which criticism is
based upon an entire misapprehension
Of the powers and duties of the Cover
nor.
These criminals pose as the execu
TONERS Of Judge Lynch and claim the
sanction Of the higher law" as an ex-
cuse for their lawlessness. But what
conception of this so-called higher law
these criminals have, if they have any
idea above and beyond lawless and
brutal determination to wreak bloody
vengeance upon the objects of their
hate, we have never been able to as
certain but to one.who has observed
with grave apprehension and alarm
the growth of this lawless tendency
among our people, it seems that mob
murder is part primitive lawlessness
closely akin to that which encourages
and patronizes prize fighting, dog
fighting or bull fighting in violation
of the laws of the land and in disre-
gard Of public sentiment, and part a
british bravado, an unhealthy or NOR
bid craving to emulate other mobs
that have slain helpless prisoners with
safety to themselves.
How rarely does it happen that we
hear of mob taking an armed and
desperate criminal? The mob victims
are, almost without exception, defence
less prisoners who can be taken fron
non-resisting and complaisant officers
OF the law, who value the votes of the
mob more than they regard their
oaths to defend prisoners committed
to, their care ard protection. The
mob is not hercely brave and noble
beast that, like the lion or tiger,
pursues, captures and kills its own
prey, but jackal or hyena-like falls up
on and tears and rends, with the mad
frenzy of cowardice, the bound cap
tive of the laws strong arm, when
left in the care of uafaithful aud IN
worthy guardians. In nine out OF
every ten mob murders reported the
facts show that the Sheriff, or some
officer standing in his place, delivers
the victim to the mob without more
than a perfunctory display OF resist
ance, and it also frequently happens
that when prisoner is being spirit
ed away" to escape mob ile falls in
to the hands OF the disciples of the
higher law, who witk hangman's
moose ready and gallows-tree selected
| do him to death under such suspicious
/ circumstances that even the unsuspici-
ous marvel how 1t happened so conve-
niently for the mob.
Such being the conditions that fos-
ter the growth of mob murder as
pastime in South Carolina, it does not
come with good grace from any one tc
criticise the Governor for not suppress
ing mob law and for not, from his
Office in Columbia, capturing, con.
victing aud punish iug the criminals,
who, under cover Of the blindness OF
Sheriffs and Constables, commit mur
der. If the Governor is to be held re-
sponsible for mob murders and criti
cised because the murderers 60 free
he should be given the power to force
the Sheriffs and Constabies to do thei'
duty. Give him the power to instant
" remove from Office any Sheriff wh'
permits prisoner in his custody, o
the custody of one Of his subordinstes
to be Iynched, or give him the powe
to appoint the Sheriffs, and the righ
, to remove them at will.
If the people are not willing t.
! countenance SO revolutionary an in
crease in the power of the Chief Exc