Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1909-11-16
The Nations Peril.

From Cairo, Ill.,, tie scene of dou-
bic lynching of a negro and white
man, there comes the usual plea that
the citizens were forced to resort TO
mob law lest the perpetrators of an
atrocious crime should escape punish
ment. We are told that there has
been break down in the machinery
of justice. Jury fixing, judicial hair
splitting and official corruption, 1t is
asserted, have given to the criminal
elements free hand. 1t needed a
crime such as led to the lynching to
arouse the public to frenzy.
1t is sad commentary on our gov
eminent and civilization-yet it Is
undeniable that such conditions exist
Government seems to be honey
combed with fraud and corruption
from the very bottom to the top
from the organized voter, with his
few filthy dollars for "work at the
polls'' or other SERVICE" TO the high
officials of government at Washington
doing the bidding Of the great finan-
cial kings and trust magnates whose
privileges run from the use Of govern
ment funds to tariff duties, frauds In
the customs service, and immunity
from prosecution for violating the
laws.
In New York, The World asserts,
there were 1903 secret murders recently
without single one of the murder
ers having been brought to justice.
And it says that "more crimes of vio-
lence, venality and corruption go UNI
punished In New York than In the
whole of Great Britain with ten times
the population" And all over the
country we have our classes that are
privileged to violate the laws. They
include the dregs on the one hand
and the 'eminently respectable" on
the other hand-yice and big business
the two extremes-meet on common
ground In defiance of the law and Ia
the shelter Of official protection.
The farce of the criminal law
which like the civil law permits end
less delays and litlgation-quite gen.
orally is recognized. 1t had been con-
demned on all sides. Yet no effort is
made to better the system. William
Dudley Foulke asserts In The Docket
that
There Is no nation In Europe, out
side of Russia and the Balkan penin-
sula whose criminal laws are as In
effective as those Of the United States
of America. There is no other
country where nen find 1t necessary
on account OF this defect TO summon
a mob and wreak summary vengeance
on some wretch whom the law will
not reach with sufficient certainty
and speed to deter other men from
similar crimes. Lynch law is not con-
sistent with real civilization. 1t does
not exist in any of the countries of
West Europe, yet we not only have
1t, but public opinion in every extern
siye regions sanction 1t as necessary.
1t never could be necessary If the ex-
listing criminal law accomplished its
purpose. 1t is only because the delay
and uncertainty Of conviction lead
men To doubt whether justice will be
done that they resort themselves u
the very extreme of lawlessness and
TO the veTy highest crime known to
the law, the crime of murder, In
order TO accomplish that which 1t Is
the duty of the law TO accomplish,
the adequate punishment Of guilt.
1t Is a terrific Indictment of our
civilization, yet we can not escape the
facts. Mob law is no remedy. I'm
less, as a people, we are capable ofcop-
ing with these evils in an orderly and
intelligent manner we shall be weighed
in the balance and found wanting.
Nor should we blame the system
alone. Unless tho citizens OF this
country shall he msa of character
unless they shall prize the virtues
above the mere possession Of wealth
our prosperity as a nation win avail
us nothing. We can not endure this
great monster Of corruption long with
out soon finding ourselves In its en-
brace. 1t must be hated with an Inn
placabIe hate. - Milwaukee Daily
News.