The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-03-16
THE SORROW OF \ STATE.


Ne think OF the terrible tragedy Of Carroll
g unty, unprecedented in the annals Of Virginia.
rather The sorrow Of the State than as its
shame. Its explanation may be found not in
the spirit Of our citizenship. nor in the i'm
potency Of our legal machinery. nor In the in
Justice or inetiicecy OF Institutions but
rather in this peryersity OF certain individuals
There has survived the refining and restraining
iuauences of developing civilization. the re-
generating forces of the Gospel OF Jesus Christ
the decencies and propreties that most men
have come to understand, sort OF anamalism, a
brute nature In individuals here and there. that
mas resisted ali the influences that would create
"a high manhood and that yields itself TO the
primal instincts OF ages long gone and glories
If the passions of the beast
This same condition may be found and has
10 be faced In every community to "a greater or
less extent and manifeste Itself In all viola
tons OF Law established for the preservation and
protection of society and for the largest wel-
fare Of the Individual. Whether il be in the
murder of an unknown man by his enemy or in
the sensational assassination OF n whole court
the principle is the same The single drunkard
or the wild dehauch OF mob indicates the
same principle The skulking thief who enters
the home In the midnight hour or the forcble
destruction ot property by frenzied mob
Il is all tho same, Circumstance may make the
inciden, conspicuous and the prominence of vic
inns may give it an added interest TO the crowd
but in principle and spirit, whore primal pas
sions survive and individuals set their own pro-
JUDGES and willis against the rights and
liberties OF others there Is an identity that in
dcates that We have yet long way 10 so be-
fore we have arrived at the ideal state of be-
ing.
Virginia Is unfortunate in the circumstance
aud the citizenship of State that is as high
and noble as may anywhere be found is today
appalled, at the tragedy that has TRANSFERRED IN
it's midst Sorrow abides in multiplied thou
sands of hearts that such unforeseen atrocity
should have occurred within her borders but,
we acknowledge charge of lawlessness pc
CELLAR to ourselves and no inferiority of charac-
ter that may not be found among the tnhab-
tants of any community. We ashamed but
not Of our State---ashamed. AS all good citizens
and men everywhere ashamed. that society
after all the forces that have been making
through the centuries Tor it's uplft should hold
ia its midst such specimens of the animal as
have revealed their presence In the persons of
these outlaws OF our mountains,
The widespread horror manifested over this
affair demonstrates the sane and superior quail
ity of our people in general. The readiness and
intelligent activity OF our officials In the face
OF an emergency reveal the supremacy OF the
intelligence and power OF the State to handle
any situation. and the apprehension of some OF
the criminals so soon after the tragedy and in
spite Of the obstacles presented by rapid flight
and armed force, indicates our ability to con-
troll the lawless element when the machinery OF
apprehension and conviction Ia set in motion.
Governor Mann and all who have rushed to
the rescue OF laws and our homes are a
source of pride and qualification to us all We
still believe in Virginia and We still believe in
the final triumph Of justice and right and We
still hope for the coming OF that day when the
higher ideals and principles OF Christian civili-
zation shall prevail and shall produce society
in which no types OF the brute shall appear.