The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-11-01
LEST WE FORGET.

SIX months ago a shot fred N little
village in Southwestern Virginia which was
heard all over the nation. sending d thrill of
Indignation through every law-abiding citizen
in the land That one shot gave the signal !
for others, and in few minutes court OF
Justice was = charmed house. The crack of "a
revolver. pun OF flame and the Common
aeaith's attorney leaped into the air and fell
dead sacrifice 10 duty done Another shot
and another. and then fusillade and the
Judge on the bench slipped quietly to the
floor TO gasp out his life at the foot OF the
throne OF Law. The sheriff who had brought
Z law-hreaker into court juror who had
dared defy his threats and bring in YER
Diet according law and the evidence; an
innocent young woman. whose only ohenSe
was that she had entered a temple OF justice
q see its sanctity upheld---aii these were
sacrificed 10 the uncomfortable rage and anar-
chsstic spirit of a feudist
1t was wholesale murder, premeditsled and
cnwardly. but il more than that II was
defiance of civilization: challenge to the Law
The people OF virginia had made, That chai-
ierge WAS accepted by the State OF Virginia
and money spent without stint TO bring to
justice the perpetrators of a foul crime and
the enemies OF all organized society. They
-wass captured gtEs5gs fsaE Trial vussF Fte
Law they had defied and four of them found
guilty and sentence imposed Two have be-
gun TO serve their sentence In the prison they
swore they would never enter. two await The
death they declared they preferred To ODE
dience TO the Law of God and man, two await
trial.
In the hills OF Southwest Virginia lives an
old woman---the wife, mother and kinswoman
~ the criminals For her the people of Vir-
gtnia nave uaugfts but sympathy. but IN the
same neighborhood live the wives and daugh-
tors and kinsmen OF those whom her loved
ones sent to an uutfTiely end. There is
sympathy for these we'll. and these also
must be remembered But there are still
Others to remember They are the citizens
of Virginia who by their obedience to the
law, have earned the right to it's protection,
f. right which viii De denied them If those
who have snatched /, from Others meet not
the extreme penalty of their crimes
Remember stricken mether--aye, give
hsr of the sympathy of the hearts OF the peo-
pie. but remember also those others whose
loved ones were cut OF in the prime of life.
Remember also Thornton Massie, brave aud
upright Judge. who died in the service of his
country as much ever did soldier who
marched 10 battle to- the music of the bands
and the plaudits OF his admiring compatriots.
Remember Sheriff Webb: remember Common
weath's Attorney Foster; remember Juror
Fowler Aye, remember these. and then re-
member the people OF Virginia and the civil-
zation which we all striving To perfect.
sympathy for those in misfortune is the
evidence in OF the divine. but sympathy
misdirected is weak sentimentality. SYM
patty which denies justice to the many while
extending mercy TO the few; sympathy which
encourages lawlessness and murder Is almost
= crime. AN eye for eye tooth for
tooth" is not the spirit OF vengeance; it is
necessary for the protection earth OF those
who fear God and keep the laws they them.
selves have imposed.