The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-03-11
1t can, while having little to point to a. done.
take a negative pride In pointing out the many
things II RETAINED from doing.
WHEN Is 4 MOB?

DR. Woodrow Wilson could give points to
the most nimble- footed fighter that ever lived
on the science of sidesteppng when it becomes
necessary to get out of the way, deliver a
telling punch. Listen to him picking up GER
tain heavier but utterly sincere gentleman and
dancing verbal rings all around his shadow.
Declaring that anyone who spoke OF popu-
lar vote of the American people being mob
government had no right to call himself an
American, the Governor OF New Jersey pro-
ceeded to give declaration and draw pie
ture.
am not afraid of the American people getting
VII and humping themselves. / am only atfaiu
they viii not.
mob is a body Of men in hot contact with
one another. moved by single, unsovernaele
passion upon doing a hasty ching that they VIII
regret the next day. DO YOU anything
resembling mob tn that voting population OF
the country sdemen trsmping over the noun
tains, men going to the general store at the VII
lage. men going into little conversing groups
to cast their ballots? Is that your notion OF a
naoh or Is that your picture of free self -govern-
in people?
/ am not afraid of the judgment expressed.
If Soa VIII give men time to think, II you will
give them Il clear conce ption OF what they are
80 vote for, because the deepest conviction and
passion of my heart is that the common people
10y which / mean all Of us. TO be absolutely
trusted
We suppose that by this DR.. Wilson meant
to attack the recent speeches Of Mr.. Taft in
which he has been making protest against the
initiative and referendum and the recall of
judges and judicial decisions. While there is
a good deal of poetry In the vision OF the suf-
fragan- soberl1- ploughing- his pollward way;
while the cracker-box scenes at the general
store is nrst-elass human interest stuff. the
nection between the sentiment and the facts is
not altogether so clear as il might be
While 1t is true that mob in one sense is
hot tempered and destructive body of men act
ing in haste and catching fire with passion from
each other, is it entirely inaccurate to describe
a body of voters that suddenly seizes on the
legislative function for the purpose of lynch
ing with the ballot practically without trial of
the accused? II what saves a crowd from
being mob is degree of elaboration, many
we'll organized hangings outside the pale of
the law have been constitutional conventions
Is 1t not the better description of mob to
say that it is the doing by force of numbers OF
something having only numbers to justify It?
is to not exactly the mob spirit when 1t is pro-
posed to siorfy popular action proceeding to do
exactly what popular action has declared in
fundamental law cannot be so done?
We believe with DIR. Wilson that whether
| 'Tor Populi. Vor Del" is truth or falsehood
| the ultimate responsibility depends the peo-
! pie to speak, There is however, deal of diff
/ ference between such view and that which
] would Justify any unbridled action that it
( follow the vote of a majority. Such view will
! continue to be fraught with danger until each
separate whittier at the crossroads is in fact
! the John Marshall, the Daniel Webster, ana
the Patrick Henry that he thinks himself. Even
in state of such embarrassment of greatness
/ there would still be peril; for 1t is notorious
that when several heroes get together the CON-
/ posite decision Is far more apt to be that OF
a fool than genius.