Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-07-30
MODS HELP HUN
PROPAGANDISTS,
WILSONDECLARES
President Appeals to Country
men to Suppress Mob Spirit
to Show Other Peoples De-
mocracy Is Safe in America

WASHINGTON, July 26.-President
Wilson today, 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 il fights for democra-
cy on foreign fields. il is not destroy
ing democracy 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 speclfl-
caIly to lynchings of negroes in the
south il is known that he included them
In his Characterization of mob spirit as
"a blow at the heart of ordered law and
humane Justice"
Used by Hun Propagandists
II is known that the lynchings of ne
groes. as well as attacks upon those
suspected of being enemies or sym
pathizers, have been used by German
propagandists throughout Central and
South America as well as Europe, to
contend that the pretensions of the Unit
ed States as a champion Of democracy
are sham
Deeply concerned by the situation, the
president decided to address his fellow
COunLrYnGn ana TO declare NLdN CNCAg
mob contributes to German lies about
the United States what her most gifted
liars cannot improve upon by way of
ealumny.''
Presidents Statement
The presidents statement in full fol-
lows:
Ny Fellow Countrymen:
l take the liberty Of addressing
you upon a subject which so vitality
the very character and integrity of
our institutions that trust you will
think me justified in speaking very
plainly about it.
I allude to the mob spirit which
has recently here and there very fire.
Quently shown it's head amongst US,
not I'm 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 or
dered law and humane justice. No
man who loves America no man
who really cares for her fame and
honor and character. or who is tru-
ly loyal to her institutions, can jus
tify mob action while the courts of
justice are open and the govern
ments of the states and the nation
are ready and able to do their duty.
We are at this very moment fight
ing lawless passion. Germany has
outlawed herself among the nations,
because she has disregarded the sa-
cred obligations of law and has made
lynchers of her armies. Lynchers
emulate her disgraceful example. 1,
for my part, am anxious to see every
community in America rise above
that level. with pride and a fixed
resolution which no man or set of
men can afford TO despise.
Betrayers Of Democracy
We proudly claim to be the cham
pions of democracy. If we really
are. in deed and in truth. let us see
to il that we do not discredit our
own I say plainly that every Amer
lean who takes part in the action of
a mob or gives il any sort of coun-
tenance. is no true son OF this great
democracy, but its betrayer, and does
more to discredit her by that sim
gle disloyalty to her standards of
law and Of right than the words of
her statesmen or the sacrifice of
her heroic boys in the trenches can
do to make suffering peoples believe
her to be their savior. How shall
we commend democracy to the ac-
ceptance OF other peoples If we
disgrace our own by proving that il
is. after 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 calum-
ny. They can at least say that such
things cannot happen in Germany.
except in times of revolution. when
law is swept away,
Active Cooperation Urged
7. therefore, very earnestly and
solemnly beg that the governors of
every community, and, above all
the men and women of every COM
munity In the United States. all who q.
revere America and wish to keep
her name without stain and re-
prOach, will c. operate-not passive
ly merely bat actively and watch
fully-to make an end OF this dis
graceful evil 1t cannot Eve where
the community does not countenance
it.
I have called upon 1.-The nation to
put its great energy into this war
and il has esponded-responded
with a spirit and genius for action
that has thrilled the world. / now
call upon il, upon its men and wom-
en- everywhere, to see to II that
its laws are kept inviolate, its fate
untarnished. Let us show our utter
contempt for the things that have
wars of history by showing how
those who love liberty and right
and justice and are willing to lay
down their lives for them upon
foreign fields. stand ready also to
illustrate to all mankind their 10y
atty to the things at home which
they wish to see established every
where as a blessing and protection
TO the peoples who have never
known the privileges of liberty and
! self-government
/ I can never accept any man as
/ the champion of liberty either for our
selves or for the world who does
. not reverence and obey the laws
Of our own beloved land, whose
laws we ourselves have made. lie
/ has adopted the standards of the
! enemies of his country, whom he
I affects to despise.
/ WOODROW WILSON.
| American DoughboYs IN