The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-07-27
WILSON DENOUNCES
MOB SPIRIT IN US.
Says Every Lynching Helps
Germany More Than Her
Own Gifted Liars.
LYNCHERS EMULATE FOE
Calls on Nation to Vindicate,
Not Discredit, Its Own
Democracy.
LYNCHERs EMULATE FOE

WASHINGTON, July IS. - President
Wilson to-day. in a personal statement
addressed to his fellow countrymen de-
nouncing mob spirit and mob action.
called upon the nation to show the world
that while 1t fights for democracy on
foreign fields It is not destroying democ-
racy at home.
The President referred not alone to
mob action against those suspected Of
being enemy aliens or enemy sympa-
thizers: he denounced most emphatically
mob action Of all sorts, especially lynch.
ings. and while he did not refer specif-
caliy TO lynchlngs OF negroes in the
South. It is known that he included them
In his Characterization OF mob spirit as
"a blow at the heart of ordered law and
humane Justice
Lynchings Used by Germans.
It is known that the lynchings OF ne
groes, as well as attacks upon those
pathizers. have been used by the Ger
man propaganda throughout Central and
South America as well as in Europe in
contending that the pretensons OF the
United States as n champion OF democ-
racy are a sham.
Deeply concerned by the situation the
President decided to address his fellow
countrymen and to declare that every
mob contributes to German lies about
the United States what her most gifted
liars cannot improve upon by way of
calumny"
The Presidents statement in full fol-
lows:
"MT FELLOW CoUNTRYMEN
"I take the liberty OF addressing you
upon a subject which so vitality affects
the honor of the nation and the very
character and integrity Of our institu-
tons that I trust you will think me JUS
titled in speaking very plainly about IT,
81 alIude to the mob spirit which has
recently here and there very frequently
shown its head among US, not in any
single region but in many and widely
separated parts of the country. There
have been many lynchings, and every
one Of them has been a blow at the
heart OF ordered law and humane JUS
uce.
NO man who loves America, no man
who really cares for her fame and honor
and character. or who Is truly loyal to
her institutions. can Justify mob action
while the courts OF Justice are open and
the governments OF the States and the
nation are ready and able to do their
duty.
I'VE are at this very moment fighting
!awless passion. Germany has outla wed
herself among the nations because she
has dlsregarded the sacred obligations
OF law and has made lynchers of her
I.ynCharq lIof ho
full example. !, for my part, am anx-
'ous TO see every community in America
rise above that level. with pride and a
rMed resolution which no man or set Of
men can afford to despise.
Mustn't Discredit Democracy.
I'VE proudly claim to be the cham
pions OF democracy. II we really are in
deed and In truth let US see to II that
We do not discredit our own. / say
plainly that every American who takes
part In the action OF a mob or gives any
sort OF countenance is no true son Of this
great democracy, but its betrayer and
does more to discredit her by that single
d'sloyalty to her standards of law and
right than the words OF her statesmen
or the sacrifices Of her heroic boys in
the trenches can do to make suffering
PEOPLES believe her to be their savior
How shall We commend democracy
20 the acceptance of other peoples II we
dSgrace our own by proving that II is,
ffter all. no protection to the weak ?
Every mob contributes TO German lies
about the United States, what her most
gifted liars cannot improve upon by the
way Of calumny. They can at least say
that such things cannot happen In Ger
many except in times OF revolution, when
law !s swept away!
y therefore very earnestly and SOL
emily beg that the Governors of all the
States the law officers Of every COM
munty, and. above all. the men and
women of every community in the
United States, all who revere America
and wish to keep her name without
stain or reproach, will cooperate-not
passively merely, but actively and watch
tully-to make an end OF this disgrace
ful evil. 1t cannot live where the COM
nunity does not countenance it.
Calls on Nation to Act.
7 have called upon the nation to put
It's great energy into this war, and II has
acknowledgements with a spirit and
genius for action that has thrilled the
world. / now call upon II. upon Its men
and women everywhere. to see to It that
us laws are kept inviolate. its fame I'M
tarnished.
Let us show our utter contempt for
tNe things that have made this war
h'deous among the wars of history by
showing how those who love liberty and
rght and justice and are willing 10 lay
Gown their lives for them upon foreign
helds stand ready also to illustrate to
al mankind their loyalty to all things at
nome which they wish to see established
everywhere as a blessing and protection
20 the peoples who have never known
ma privilege OF liberty and self-govern-
ment
u can never accept any man as a
champion OF liberty either for ourselves
or Tor the world who does not reverence
ana obey the laws OF our own beloved
Iahd. whose laws We ourselves have
MADE He has adopted the standards of
me enemies Of his country, whom he at
fects to despise.
'WoopRow WILSON,
SHIP pRORIEM STTI. Vital.