Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1904-08-25
OlSGRACEFUL TO GEORGIA.

disgraceful illustration of lawlessness
and savagery among the people, and ofin-
competence and moral cowardice Of Off
Gals is furnished by the story printed this
morning of the burning of the two negroes
near Statesboro, Ga. There seems to be
no excuse. The State and county officials,
executive and judicial, had abundant warn
ing. Yet they sent to the scene of threat
ened disturbance an inadequate military
force, and put on sentry duty men with no
cartridges in their rifles. This was the
merest child's play and criminal foolish
ness. 1t made the authority and military
force of the State contemplate and ridi-
culous and wsntonly exposed the lives of
the soldiers, leaving them defenseless at
the mercy of the mob. 1t is pitiful to think
of sheriff representing the dignity and
sovereignty of the State and supposed to
have the armed forces of the State at bis
back, whining and pleading with mob Of
breakers, beseeching them to respect
the law and to leave bis prisoners in his
hands-prisoners whom the State had dis
armed and imprisoned, and for whose
lives and rights her honor was pledged
solemnly.
The prisoners had been tried, convicted
under regular form of law. Their doom
was inevitable. Their lives would have
been taken and their crime punished with
the extreme penalty. They were put to
death barbarously and illegally in
obedience to an impulse of savage inn
patience unworthy the dignity OF band of
Sioux Indians.
The Southern newspapers should let it be
known promptly that they haye no tolera-
ton for such spirit as that shown by the
mob, or for such wretched weakness, folly
and treason as has marked the conduct of
the officials. The private militiamen who
were put on guard with empty guns, and
some of whom tried to fight for law and
order and the honor of their corps with |
their bayonets, are entitled to thanks and |
praise. They are the honorable exceptions
in miserable and disgraceful tragedy and
failure of justice.
1t is safe to predict that nobody will be
punished. Ifjustice could be done the
governor would be required to face i'm
parchment proceedings, the sheriff would
be in Jail, several scores of citizens would
be put on trial for murder and the officers
In general command of the troops would
be cashiered in disgrace. Not one of these
things is likely to happen, or even posi-
BILE. The men who burned these negro
prisoners are the same on whom the sherlf
depends for bis job and to whom the gov.
srnor looks for votes. Here in Virginia
we have advanced beyond that kind of
hing. The people Iare masters here, as
elsewhere, but public sentiment has been
treated among them in favor of the main
enance of the law, the support of its pro-
ceedings and the orderly execution of its
That same sentiment can be
,reated and established elsewhere in the
south. 1t may be slow process in which
many discouragements will be encountered
,ut the end is we'll worth working for. In
bringing it about the newspapers must be
LIE strongest factor, and when an official
J discovered here and there with nerve
nough to defy or oYerawe the mob and
1aintain the law at all hazards, his hands
hould be upheld and he should have the
trong support, moral and political, of the :
ress and all of the intelligent, law-abiding
Iements of bis constituency.-Rlchmond
Iews-Leader. =
The above about correctly expresses our a
Jews about the recent horrible work of d
eorgia mob. c.
They are the views Of stalwsrt South