The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1909-11-12

iof vigilance or foreknowndge or
some purely human sympathy pre-
vents the authorities forestalling the
mob's desire
Yet. success in a venture Of this
kind suggests hitherto unthOught
ideas to some of the lynchers. There
was in that mob, no doubt. every
grade of lawbreaker and criminal:
men with malice toward society. men
whose passions had been kept in
check only through respect for the
law. or previous lack of Incentive
EXcusers of mob violence may pirate
upon the chivalrous motive of its
crime: but we suspect a call of the
roll Of Cairo's citizens, who have al
ways stood for morality and rlghte-
Ous In private and civic life, would
have received few responses in that
crowd last night If that mob was
performing a civic duty, We fear the
best citizens of Cairo were sngularly
remiss in their social obligations for
once, and the hoodlum element was
suddenly turned reformer.
Failing to find Alexander, James
accomplish, say press dispatches,
"The mob stormed the county jail
and dragged forth Henry Salzner, an
alleged wife murderer, and hanged
him and rddled his body with bull
lets"
That mob was thirsting for blood
and hungering after the smell of roast
ing human flesh. We know not
what local conditions may have ag-
gravated the situation last might; or
what smouldering protest made dry
fuel for the spark of circumstance.
That is Cairo's to rectify. We only
abhor the deed and fear the conse-
quences: but hope our nelghbors will
take the lesson of this crime to heart,
and mend the condition that brings
law into contempt and makes il pow
erless to defend itself.
The Cairo Bulletin this morning
charges the whole dreadful affair on
the officers of the city and county
and the courts in an editorial, which
we quote in full:
That Cairo yesterday and last
night reaped the logical fruit of
years OF police disagreement and
rank miscarriage Of justice in their
courts. is not open to question in the
minds OF the people generally: and
Rev. Father Downey's short address
over the remains of the latest victim
of the reckless and vicious element
in the city. made bold by long con-
tinGed official panderlng. indifference
and corruption. was the theme of
hearty approval by all who heard II.
"The officers whom they have
elected to administer the law against
criminals having failed wilfully for
years to do their duty-conniving
with criminals; packing juries, pro-
curing Witnesses to bear false testi-
mony, and prostituting justice-the
people arose in their might and adj
ministered the law themselves. which
was their only recourse. Repeated
warnings sounded, by The Bulletin
and by citizens. that this would come.
were ignored with scorn by those in
authority. -.- -.-
The Bulletin has RETAINED from
making any comment on the events
OF the last few days. desiring not to
add fuel to the flames BY telling some
wholesome truths. But the time for
silence is past: the worst has been
done; Cairo and Alexander county
have been overwhelmed with all the
injury and disgrace that mob law
can bring upon a community, and II
Is in order now to place the response
bility for this where IL belongs in or
der that the awful lesson may serve a
good purpose.
at Is but charity 10 presume that
the mayor has not been mayor of
Cairo 80 far as the police department
Is concerned: he has not done his
duty; If he has not known that the
controlling element of hi police de-
partment is rotten with graft he has
been inexcusaby, pitlably ignorant.
'The same is true of the sheriff;
who has been mere tax collector.
permitting Jailer Alternately and 9TH
er corrupt deputies to administer the
criminal law.
Both OF these departments need to
be cleaned out-at once The people
have a right to expect that this shall
be done.
''The terrible story of yesterday
means. above all things else. that the
men of Cairo want protection for
their women and children, without
regard 10 race. 1t Is not race war;
the hanging of Salzner proves this;
IT, was protest against wanton muir
der, unpublished. It was a demand
that the officials OF the city and coun
ty shall not henccforth regard the
vicious element as the controlling
element"