Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-03-31
nIsonLIAERoua aGooan
The True Remsdy.

Six Of the Springfield, Ohio, rioters
who, infamed 10 violence by a brutal
murder committed by a negro desperado
SET fire to the negro quarters Of that city
and attempted other acts Of lawlessness
were convicted after a trial by jury But
the jury recommended fine Of only one
dollar, with costs, in each case and, after
the imposition Of sentence as recon-
mended paid the penalties for the pris-
oners. The moral effect Of verdict Of
this character could not have been intensi-
fed by one Of absolute acq'uttal.
Such an ending to a prosecution of
offenders against the law clearly shows
that the community is in sympathy with
the law breakers. Otherwise, il would
have been attended by an outburst of
popular indignation that would have
nullihed tho iury's manifest miscarriage
of Justice and compelled a respect for the
law. Az Il is, this iarcical verdict must
be accepted az the communitys indorse-
ment Of the lawlcss violence which sought
20 inaict summary vengeance for the deed
of murderous negro upon all others Of
his race resident in the community. Sig
nihoant evidence Of this is found in the
news statement accompanying the an
nouncement Of the jury verdict, to the
effect that the municipal authorities At
Springfield fear another outbreak against
the negroes.
When a community gives itself over
TO am implied Endorsement Of the applica-
ton Of lynch law, there is something
radically wrong. With the conditions
existing at Springfield il is not possible
10 deal intelhgently and with assurance
at long range, but the most plausible
presumption is that the people there are
dissatisfied with the regular adminstra-
ton of justice Springfield is not a South
crn community of which It may be urged
that any crime committed 10y negro
is regarded as sufficient justification for
the people taking the law into their own
hands and visiting summary punishment.
But the fact remains that upon two occa-
sions serious outbreaks occurred there
,luc 20 indignation over violent crimes
committed 10y negroes, and the second
outbreak IS followed by the trial OF some
oi tho rioters ending with jury verdict
which practically acquits thom Of guilt
and place the seal of approval upon thcil
actions.
30 would seem from these proceeding
that tho pnrlc In Springfield is due C
laN administration of the law, from be
riaun- io end rhcro is little douh
ibai ,lc omburts of violence agains
n-gfo criminals were melted by tho iailuri
oi zoe authorities TO enforce the law AIDE
qus.oly against those criminals, and tin
miscarriage OF justice that attended th
trisl oi tho ant-ncgro rioters will onl,
tend tomakc conditions worse.
And so Watcher this is d correct esti
mate OF Che situation or not, there is httl
doubt that the only effective romed
is TO tc found IN q rigid enforcement @
iAc law with respect to all offenders
black and white II cannot be urge
that tine people of this Ohio city woul
le stirred TO intense indignation at crime
committed by negroes merely by reaso
OF the color OF the criminals But
failure TO properly punish offender
against the law, regardless OF their colo
is bound 20 excite community to Il
point OF taking the law in It's own hand
Let the authorities Of Springfield sternl
rcpress, by adequate legal punishment
all forms Of violence, whether commit,
by blacks or whites, with equal impa
tialty when committed by either, az
tho probabilities are that mob violen
will never more be heard of there