The Nashville globe. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1906-193?, 1917-07-06
-(Adv.)


Then, after Turing the Negroes
north by such platitudes, they pro,
coed to kill them In wholesale lots and
burn their homes, for wanting to
work when they get there!
Thus do they protect" the Negro
from "bondage!" Thus do they safe
guard him in his constitutions!
rights" Thus do they show the
south how to cope with the race
problem!"
We hear much of the so-called CON
stitutional rights" of the colored man,
from the northern viewpoint, but the
constitutional guarantee to every man,
white or black, of the fundamental
right to earn his living in the sweat
of his brow-as 1t is and always has
been vouchsafed to the Negro in the
south-seems to have been entirely
overlooked Atlanta Constitution.
The Mob.
To say that the public mind is hor-
ror-stricken expresses inadequately
the feeling in contemplating the work
of the insensate and irresponsible
mob in East ST. Louis. Wicked in
Justice has been done the Negro race
in many instances in the south and
all over the country, but for enormity
and fiendishness no example of muir
der and incendiarism is comparable
to that enacted in Illinois. Apart
from the wholesale numbering, main
ing and firing. the stories of brutality
and cruelty exhibited towards help.
less victims, almost stagger belief
The height of barbarisnl was evident
in the participation of white women
and girls in ignoble and revolving
acts.
Since the entrance Of the United
States in the European war we have
carefully observed the press to note
whether that fact has not had Its
SOLDERING effect in decreasing acts Of
lawlessness of all kinds. This eXami
nation had about it degree of en-
enlargement and satisfaction. 1t Is
certain that the newspaper columns
have carried less news of the kind
Whether the more absorbing interes
in the world-war may have pushed
back and overshadowed the crimina
catalogue we do not know definitely
However, it seemed a matter Of fe
licitation that the periodic epidemic
of crime that often afflict our countr!
had diminished in market way.
The violence of the mob, 1t is seen
still remains in the cancer spot upol
the body polite. We may we'll ask
with serious misgivings, if we hav,
that profound respect for the dignit,
and majesty of the law which 1
worthy of American institutions ant
ideals. With such horrifying Out
breaks, is there such an apprecia
ton of orderly government as t.
| throw around the humblest citizen
white or black, any sense of security
| Are the scales of justice so delicate
| ~ poised as to guarantee to ever
! man the safeguarding of his life
rights and property? Our institr
tions, our lives, our liberties are SAT
in proportion as the laws unde
which we live are respected, obserN
ed and enforced.
Among barbarians it is the reig
of will that prevails. Brute fore
that knows no restraint in the veal
on of the untutored tyrant and dictt
tor Civilized nations live under tn
reign of law. AS new condition
arise, laws are framed to meet tn
demands of justice. Where wrong
intrude, their righting depends upo
courts, legislatures and executives
Mob law is always an insufficieI
excuse and means for avoiding tn
evils it presumes to correct. Selisl
ness and revenge, above everythin
else, are its springs of action.
proceeds from the darkest side (
human nature The effect, withol
. just punishment, is to cultivate
weakened regard for all the order
, processes Of law in the communii
and state. The criminally dispose
are certain to take advantage Of Il
, fact.
AS a rule, the acts Of a few enragt
/ and outraged persons are not to be
, terpreted as the deliberate expressit
of the attitude of communities towal
law observance and enforcement
T. When, on the other hand, 1t sweel
, over q community like a confiagr
I ton from the number Of participant
1t shows the sense Of moral duty al
I public obligation to be at its lowe
l ebb. In East st. Louis reason W
Y become enthroned and the ways
/ furious passion will subside. In L
9 event of no severe legal penaltit
there must ensue deep pangs of
Q morse for all time In rejecting up,
the enormity of the crimes commit
= against society.-Knoxville Jourr
and Tribune.