The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-08-09

with q sufficient desire for
ervation 10 demand that he
sonably sure he can escape de
Then, having granted that he
goes about mis- diaboIicaI busine
logical and calculating manner
are forced TO the conclusion that
the event he is caught, ii matte
little to him whether he dies in a a
corous manner. or sUmmarily al TIN
hands of his CaptOTS. If we asCri0d
to him all the cool reasoning here ADJ
mitted for the sake Of argument. our
Creduity will not greatly suffer in
believing that de would really pre-
fer the latter method, for thereby all
the aSonizing sushpeuse Is obyiated
However widely We may differ as to
the reasoning used by criminals OF
this character, we must all conCede
the cool fact that crimes of this na-
ture have not decreased. They are
even more prevalent Lynching as
deterrent of crime is a failure. Care
fully compiled statistics prove this
beyond the possibility of a doubt
All these argument apply while
the offender is still in the hands or
private citizens. After he has been
apprehended and placed in jail, there
arises another powerful reason why
he should not be summary dealt with.
The duty of the state 10 protect its
prisoners is cO-extensive with its
right TO take prisoners. The prison
eT must needs be rendered absolute
" helpless. II matters not what foes
assail him. he has no means either
of defense or escape. The state has
thus rendered him helpless ami de-
fenseless, assuming the task of pro-
l.-
Of protecting society from him. Ger
tain men are delegated as his custo-
dians. and it is their unavoidable duty
to protect him at all cost, and regard
less OF cost or consequences. He NAV
not be worth his keep. In certain
cases it might be good riddance to
have him killed immediately. but with
this these keepers have nothing TO do.
Their sole charge is TO safely keep"
him. and his protection from iTTespon,
sible violence represents a principle
which cannot be violated except at
the hazard of all the liberties and i'm
munities guaranteed by the bill OF
rights. The sheriff or joiIe who keeps
this trust to the limit of his resisting
power, and regardless of public cIamor
is a worthy man and patriot. The
sheriff or Tailor who does not keep
this trust to the limit of his resisting
power is a traitor. and should be es-
teemed as such by his cOuntrymen.
Leanjer Shaw probably never was
worth the metal IL will require 20 put
this communication into type. The
sooner all his kind perish from the
face of the earth the better II will be
for society NV sincere sympathy is
with those who abide in the homes
his crime has made desoIate- I ap-
preciate the noble passion which burn
ed in the bOsoms of the men forming
the mob, mistaken and misguided
though ] deem them / have no in
terest in Sheriff Van Pelt, nor dUeA
he need my support and sympathy.
But the fact that considerable part
of the people of one of our great
cities condemn an official for PERFORM
ing a sacred and sworn duty is of M
terest to every citizen OF the state.
II argues i'll for our institutions, and
demands that those without the tT~.t
mol, and whose hearts are not fired
by the grTeSOme passion of il all.
should cry out to their panic-striCker
brethren, calling upon them 10 brook
their anger. sheath the sword Of ven
geanCe, and bow to the serene maies-
~ of the law These are my Eenti-
ments- This Is my appeal-not to the
dead past, but to the living, glowing
future.
The fiend'5 victim was not benefited
by his early demise. The fiend him
self is no more dead than he WnulI
have been if he had been legally excel
ted, and did not suffer nearly 40 much.
Many hearts are sad, several homes
are desOlate, and the community IL IN
a turmoil, all as a result of his illegal
execution.
Lync1ing. under any circumstances,
IA bad business, always has been, and
always will be.
DANIEL A. SIMMONS.
NOTICE.