The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-08-19
CetterS tc tbe Edftor
Letter. to the Editor.

I have been a constant, if not close. of the press for a number of years. and cies have much saya to do ,nSi With hnsre smreouidins public sentiment and influencing human character and conduct. This being true. dass nbt 9u5 to bs use of their editorial space. Hereto fore The Advertiser has been conserva- conserve. affecting public interest and safety. ana has been. and Is now. regarded as s.ssan criterion 5y not a few: For ,1dns sn,s with the sditoriai in your issue of the i2th inst. under the caption, "Trifing With Justice" as 1t most certainly mob spirit. if 1t is not an endorsement of mob law. from the disastrous and woeful consequences of which may 'ar',
 %an, N s dssaS s defend the criminal. the subject @ of this wSa 0U, pufpGss IS simply have to check and discourage the mob spirit and to uphold the majesty of the law which has too often In recent years and trampled In the mire of hate and revenge, thereby lowering the standard of civilization and ,Chsistianity in our which have reference Is as follows: ",rrfhing With Justice.
 The Albany (Ga.) Herald declares that the Texans havo reached the an orderly trial. but they kick promptly out of the traces when dilatory tactics are resorted to-
 commenting on a recent occurrence at Waco. A negro had committed the crime which no true Southern man can e g suuS ggve on speaSy aS s a pie refrainoa from interfering with him. He was tried, found guilty, con- victed and sentenced. Then his lawyer new trial which was granted A few nights later he was taken from the jail by an armed crowd and hung after hav-
 Fit viii be said that the act of the mob, If 1t must be so designated. was trining with justice. Perhaps 1t was. n Sa' tas ' 5 hoes when Tn ss'e tss uGss granted the brute q new trial. As we understand the testimony. there was no o%n s Sad fan tfa Gai his guilt was established and he was fairly convicted. That should have ended 1t, and his s; s;xseution should have followed been no occasion for lynching and none would have occurred. Justice would have been satisfied and the good town of Waco would not have been heralded to the world as the scene of mob law"
 Now. if this editorial. when consid- cred as whole, does not give counte- then fall to understand 1t, and the fact that 1t comes from the editorial page of one of the largest and most influential some extent as an explanation as to why the Governor Is so often called upon to order out the military to pro- tedy ss of the law. from if the fury r and and rage of a lawless mob. And. I might add, prevent good men from committing deeds t,oS of violence under great provaSea tSa; must ever after regret The mob spirit will set in enough of It's bloody work in spite of all the conservative infiu- let us all beware.
 In this case The Advertiser has been hasty. if not rash, in jumping at con. this Texas court as the following ex- cerpt from this editorial will show: Tt will be said that the act of the mob, if with justice. Perhaps it wal was a but "he the first trifiing with Justice was in the courthouse where the judge granted the as aets yGS n0 aSou which you confess you have no person. al knowledge. but you prefer a serious
 is afanst akd this trial judge sustain 1t: 'The first trifing with jus tiee." you say. was in the courthouse" This means. of course. that the judge moved by. some corrupt motive in granting the new trial which you style "trifing with justice" I haven't the judge was that presided In this trial, and Judges, would be willing to stake tion that this judge had sound legal grounds for granting this new trial, and that he did 1t reluctantly. Perhaps iiiegaiity % in the organization nj of thts the grand jury that found the bill or some other frregularity that was called to the courts attention in this motion for the new trial which would not support a conviction and sentence. and on which he knew he would be reversed if an appeal was taken. In other words. he ant had not been tried and convicted &C., cprding to law If that was true, no higher duty could rest on the trial he would have violated his duty to him self. to this country and to his God to have refused 1t. But The Advertiser and jumps at the conclusion that the defendant had a fair trial. his guilt was established and he was fairly con amination % no ddabt @ nrWsh it would admit tSat 1t was talking through its hat" and that 1t really knew nothing about the real Tacts Tn the case. Sucn reckless and unwarranted attacks upon the courts has a tendency to destroy conf dence in the efficiency and integrity of our judicial tribunals and furnishes all the excuses the lawless and vicious need for breaking down jail doors, over powering sheriffs and other legally constituted authorities and staining their hands with the blood of a fellow being already in the custody of the law Let 1t be understood once for all that every person who participates in lynching Is not only guilty of murder under the laws of this State, but God will hold each responsible as a particeps criminis.
 As stated above. newspapers wield great influence in moulding public opinion and sentiment and a great daily like The Advertiser ought to be more guarded in its expressions on such mo- mentous questions. Such editorials the least of 1t, misleading and tends to encourage the mob spirit. It seems to me that the press of the country Is get ting entirely too loose in such matters. Tn support of this assertion. will mem tion a most deplorable tragedy that took place down in Coffee County some months ago. A young woman took umbrage at some statement refiecting on her character alleged to have been made by her brother-in-law at which passion and. provided with the deadly revolver. she started Ion the warpath," and as soon as she came up with him she whipped 1t out and, without one word of warning. she shot, him to death. And. if l remember correctly, The Mont bloody decd. not only tried to justify the act, but actually appluuded the poor. misguided young woman in the com mission of the horrible crime. If call