Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-07-27
Pres. WILSON
Denounces Mob Spirit
and Mob Action
Calls Upon Nation to Show World
That While Il Fights Abroad for
Democracy It Is Not Destroying
Democracy at Home-PerscnaI
Statement Issued Friday

Washington, July 26.-President
Wilson today, in a personal state
ment, addressed to his fellow COun-
trymen, denouncinS mob spirit and
mob action, called upon the nation
to show the world that while it fights
for democracy on foreign fields, it is
not destroying democracy at home.
The President referred not alone to
mob action against those suspected
of being enemy aliens or enemy SYM
pathizers: he denounced most en-
phatically mob action of all sorts, es-
pecially lynchings, and while he did
not refer specifically to lynchings of
negroes in the South, it is known that
he included them in his characteri-
zation of mob spirit as "a blow at the
heart of ordered law and humane
Justice
1t is known that the lynchings of
negroes, as well as attacks upon
those suspected Of being enemies or
sympathizers, have been used by the
German propaganda throughout Cen
trail and South America as we'll as in
icpS, " NolllChh bIiiL lIlc VI tltIl-
sions of the United States as a cham
pion Of democracy are sham.
Deeply concerned by the situation,
the President decided to address mis-
fellow oountrymen. and to declare
that every mob contributes to Ger
man lies about the United States
what her most gifted liars cannot i'm
Nv of
The Presidents statement in full,
follows.
My Fellow Countrymen:
Il take the liberty of addressing
you upon 4 subject which so vitality
affects the honor of the nation and
the very character and integrity of
our institutions that | trust you will
think me justified in speaking very
plainly about it.
| allude to the mob spirit which has
recently here and there very fire.
quently shown its hand amongst lis,
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 or
dered law and humane Justice. No
man who loves ..nerica, 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
at-1. 4
this very moment fighting lawless
passion. Germany has outlawed her
self among the nations because Sh,
has disregarded the sacred obliga-
tons of law and has made lynchers
of her armies. Lynchers emulate
her disgraceful example. T. for my
part. am anxious to see every com
munity in America rise above that
level, with pride and a fixed resolu-
ton which no man or set of men
can afford to despise.
I'VE proudly claim to be he
champions Of democracy. If we real
ly are, in deed and in truth. let rs
see to It that we do not discredit on
own. l say plainly that every
American who takes part in the &C
ton Of mob ,r gives any sort Of
countenance is no true son Of this
great democracy, but its hetrayer.
and does more to discredit her by
that single disloyaltv to her stand
ards of law and right. than the words
of her statesmen or the sacrifices Of
her heroic boys in the trenches ca i
do to make suffering peoples believe
her 70 be their saviour. How shall