The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-10-29
KANSAS CONNENT
THE MENACE On, rt1r..op

THE MENACE OF THE MOB.
Ever occur to you that this country
mas problem of more gravity than
any OF the issues of this campaign
~ aiH II over, and see if the spread of
~ law isn't a greater menace than
n r.,e or the guaranty of bank de-
p pi' ana by mob law we mean not
ana destroy property. but the Tendency
s;re atu excusing such actions; the de-
~ ENFORCE our own opinions, rath-
en Ian the laws of the land. True
sin,se n, the machinery of justice is
ny anu sometimes it is lax as we'll.
- a. Icing true, and human nature as
1t Is, mob law, perhaps. follows as a
naeui al result. But it is a dangerous
~ eceoent, to even enforce penalties of
~ .ne law IN this way. In the first place,
~ is Illegal, no matter what crime the
&c S,,n may De guilty of; it is anarchy,
iiucn as blowing UP monarchs or
palaces, and the tendency of anarchy
10 oo"n"ard toward terror and chaos.
Sdost americans raise their hands in
no[lor at the invasion of the lawless
t .seus Oh europe, whose declared inten-
s s,o.f Is the destruction of government,
pul we endure and even foster other
iaWiessness, which is as bad. and which
- very similar. If history proves any
Cnlns, IL proves that laws are a neces-
sity, ana the more just those laws. and
the more impartial their enforcement,
ne greater is the general welfare of
.nS country. 1t is not right for the
TOBACCO trust to violate law. but 1T is
certainly greater outrage to destroy
its property before it has been brought
70 triai. 1t is not right for one farmer
70 olctate to another what he shall
ralse. and the price he shall demand
Lor II, although it might be to the
nhahciai interest of the second farmer
10 heed the suggestion. 1t is not lawful
nor right Tor union man to blow I'D
mine because it refuses to recognize
the organization, no more than it is
risnt Tor a mining company to employ
mugs TO make trouble and place the
blame on the union men. But the most
impartial reports indicate that all these
tnlngS have been done, and. what is
worse. that the perpetrators have al
most universally escaped legal punish
ment. And the mob idea is found even
where there is no violence. 1t is the
ioea which makes class hatred and
race hatred; which is apt to make the
poor man believe the rich is dishonest,
and has no right to his riches; which,
In turn, may make the rich man be-
lieve he has right to use his wealth
to run the country. 1t even enters into
our courts of justice, where the muir
derer is acquitted of murder, because
he has killed man whom he thought
deserved death. A judge may be guilty
OF the same offense when he fines or
restraints great corporation, not be-
cause of the law, but because of the
popular clamor 1T is surely a big
question, this law of the mob, which
differs but little from the law of the
pack. No doubt it is selfishness in
some form which prompts it in its vari-
GUS phases, but it is dangerous for all
that. No government or people ever
thrived on anarchy, and they never
will. If laws are. wrong, they should
be changed. but there is always the
proper method to bring about the
change In this, the best country in
the world in the best era of the worlds
history, there is certainly no call for a
revolution, and Americans should cease
indulging in thoughts and actions
which lead to that sort of disturbance.
-Atchison Globe. 49,.