Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-13
Night Riders and Anarchy.

A. c. Roane of Mississippi is man WITH
the courage of his convictions. His con-
yictions are open to criticism, but hls
courage is unmistakable.
Mr.. Roane, one of the delegates, adj
dressed the cotton convention in Memphis
Yesterday in defense of the night riders
who are spreading anarchy around ano
about The other side had been hearo
and the anarchists denounced in extreme
terms, when the Mississippian Jumped
upon his chair and called for order. He
said the night riders were an oppressed
people, fighting for what they believed tc
be right. working against overwhelming
odds, but always from the best motives. >
As may be imagined. great excitement
followed But the convention was equal
to the emergency, and adopted the follow
ing resolutions:
1.-The meeting condemns in unmeasured
terms the recent lawleSSness throughout
a number of our southern states. known
as night riders, and We urge that the
governments of the various states where
this evil is threatening the welfare OF
the people take immediate and decisive
action for effectually >suppressing the
same
The courage. or recklessness, or what
you will. of this man from Mississippi is
emphasized by the fact that elsewhere
when men have been accused of melting
night riding, or sympathizing with it, they
have stoutly denied the charge. Whatever
the grounds may have been for bringing
the charge, those accused have resented 1t
publicly with all energy. They realized
its gravity, and hurried to ally themselves
with their tongues at least-on the side
of law and order.
But. although standing alone in his pub
lie deliverance. MIR. Roane, unfortunately
for the country. represents widely pre-
vailing philosophy and spirit. He states
the case as the night riders themselves
see it. They, too, insist that they are OPP
pressed. and, with the best motives, are
working against overwhelming Odds As
they conceive it, their situation justifes all
they are doing. If men would escape
whipping, or death, and save their prop
erty from the torch, let them obey orders.
And the orders are that the night riders
must rule. They have met, and after con-
sidering matters have organized for TAX
ing matters into their own hands, and In
certain localities they are now supreme.
This is the attitude of the reds" OF
Europe, whether in Spain, or Italy, or
France. or England. ~ They proclaim
themselves as oppressed and fighting
against overwhelming odds. They assert
the best of motives. Their only object
as they declare, is to free not only them.
selves but all men from servitude. Here
with this object in view, a king is mark
ed for death. There, a minister, doing a
peoples bidding. is put on the black list
Yonder, a man of large prosperity is
warned to give of his substance to those
who have nothing and want something.
Anarchy. whether in Europe or America
cures nothing, but increases whatever
difficulties may exist. Night riders In
Kentucky have thrown sections of that
old state into a condition of terror. Com.
munities where for years the best OF
feeling and the strongest faith among
neighbors prevailed are today rent by sus.
picion. A judge found it necessary re.
Gently to ask from the bench an officia
investigation of current gossip that he
was in sympathy with, and probably q
member of, a night-riding gang AnG
unless the. cotton states move with energ.
they may find themselves in the same
appalling clutches