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 eSecu-
sioners of Judge Lynch and claim the
sanction Of the g higher law" as an ez-
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 oneswho 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 q
british bravado, an unhealthy or NOR
bid craving to emulate other mobs
tha5 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 from
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 and protection. The
mob is not iercely brave and noble
beast that, like the lion or tiger,
pursues, captures and kills its own
prev, but iackal 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 and un-
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 perfunctory display Of resist.
ance, and it also frequently happens
that when prisoner is being spirit
ed away to escape mob ne falls in
to the hands of the disciples OF the
higher law, who with hangman's
moose ready and gallows-tree selected
do him to death under such suspicious
circu umssances that even the unsuSpicl-
GUS 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, il does not
come with good grace from any one to
criticise the Governor for not suppress
ing mob law and for not, from his
Office in Columbia, capturing, con-
victing aud Furnishing the criminals,
who. under cover Of the Blindness OF
Sheriffs and Constables, commit muir
der. If the Governor is to be held re-
sponsible for mob murders and critl-
cised because the murderers 60 free,
he should be given the power to force
the Sheriffs and CoDstables to do their
duty. Give him the power to instant
ly remove from Office any Sheriff who
permits a prisoner in his custody, OF
the custody of one of his subordinstes,
to be lynched, or give him the power
to appoint the Sheriffs, and the right
to remove them at will.
If the people are not willing tc
countenance so revolutionary an in
crease in the power of the Chief Exc