Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-26
Mobs and Crime.

Some criticism reaches The Star from
one of its readers concerning the comments
by this newspaper on the subject of the
Atlanta mob. 1t is complained that there
Reproduction of the crimes out OF
which the mob spirit grew.
The Star ii ought to be unnecessary to
say. was dealing with the futility of the
mob either to repross or to punish crime.
Here was the most conspicuous case that
had yet been presented in support of that
proposition. For the most appalling and
pathetic thing for both whites and blacks
in connection with the Atlanta affair is
that probably not single guilty person
fell a victim to the mobs fury. The mob
was not seeking the guilty. 1t was not
reasoning, but, insane with passion, was
SCI on by the bare appearance of a black
skin. tinoffending and inoffensive men of
the negro race were killed without a
thought of their guilt or innocence entering
into the minds of their executioners 1t
was an orgy of blind madness, and as a
result the brutes guilty of the assaults and
attempted assaults and who deserved death
thousand times over, are still at large
and an indescribable menace to the sections
where they may wander
There is but one opinion about the crime
Of assault. All respectable men of what
ever color condition, or creed share it. If
denunCiation of the crime would lessen il
even in the slightest degree the press
could well afford 10 ring with reprobation
or II daily, and the pulpit whenever the
sacred desk Is occupied. But unfortunate
~ Tor the public safety brutes do not read
newspapers, or attend divine worship. The
men ana women who do are not in daily
need oI adjuration 20 virtue on that point
Van atlanta editor asked of the colored pas
Tors of the city "a preach hell and dam
nation on the subject of the assaults of
hIack men on white women. and he con-
ieSseS that they gladly and promptly did
81 b"t Is II conceivable that single one
OF the brutes WHO offended at Atlanta
le"Id Single one u those sermons? They
Were not at church but in the low dives
guzzlinS rum, and tllus preparing tbem
selves Tor crime. Some of the men whom
The mob killed probably did hear those ser
mons and approved every word that the
ministers uttered.
washington has its troubles The peonIe
or TINS town are not without anxietfes from
the dangers of base creatures who infest
every city. Recently two white women
Were hrutally assaulted by negroes within
Few miles Of the Capitol. The result bs
'eeH 70 create a natural feeling of I'M
easlneSs on the part of women In the
sparseiN settled portions of the community
III mob We're 20 take matters in hand
"ouu anybody be benefitedo Would the
guilty be Appreciated" Would not the in
aoeent be likely 10 suffer as at Atlanta?
one of the saddest reflections in connec-
tlon with this whole frightful business is
that 1t proceeds in large measure from a
petty miserable, a false. and a criminal
economy. There is not a city of any size
IN America that is sufficiently policed
w asAington is not. In every city are
whisky shops and brothels of the lowest |
descriptions: and there congregate the |
fiends in human form. black and white |
who make all the trouble. And vet the |
policemen are comparatively few, and are |
poorly paid. II necessary. there should be |
a policeman on every corner ana another |
In the middle OF the block in exposed To- !
calities. What are d few dollars. what
thousands OF dollars. to the security of |
more than life to women and their ease |
of mind while their natural protectors are |
away providing for ,he household?
But always il should be remembered that |
the mob cures nothing. 1t aggravates, it |
complicates, every evil it touches.