Mount Vernon signal. (Mt. Vernon, Ky.) 18??-current, 1918-08-23
A STATEMENT BY THE
PRESIDENT.


low countrymen, denouncing
mob spiritand mob action, called
upon the Nation Friday to show
the world that while it fights
for democracy on foreign fields it
is not destroying democracy at
home.
The Presidents statement in
full follows:
"My Fellow Countrymen: I
take the liberty of addressing you
upon a subject which so vitality
| effects the honor of the Nation
and the very character and in
tegrity of our institutions that l
trust you will think me justified
in speaking very plainly about it.
LOYALTY CAN'T JUSTIFY MoBS.
Il allude to the mob spirit
which recently here and there
very frequently has shown it's
head amongst US, not in any SIN
| gle region, but in many and
| widely separated parts of the
| country. There has been m any
lynchings. and every one of
them has been a blow at the
heart of ordered law and humane
justice.
mo man who loves America,
no man who really cares for her
fame and honor and character or
who is truly loyal to her institu-
tions, can justify mob actions
while the courts of justice are
open and the government of the
states and the Nation are ready
and able to do their duty.
I'VE are IT this very moment
fighting lawless passions. Ger
many has outlawed herself
among the nations because she
has disregard the sacred obliga-
tons of law and has made lynch
ers of her armies Lynchers
emulate her disgraceful example.
l, for my part, am eager to see
! every community in America
i rise above the level. with pride
/ and a fixed resolution which no
L man or set of men can afford to
despise.
II A BETRAYAL OF COUNTRY.
] "We proudly claim to be the
! champions of democracy. If We
: really are in deed and in truth,
= let US see to it that we do not dis
= credit our own. l say plainly
&c that every American who takes
Il part in the action of a mob or
e gives any sort of couutenance is
IS no true son of this great democ
IL racy, but its betrayer and does
5; more to disc redit her by tina
d single disloyalty to her standards
y of law and of right than tn,
at words of her states men or of tht
10 sacrifices of her heroic boys il
H. the trenches can do to make suf
le fering peoples believe her to b.
III their savior. How shall we re
Is commend democracy to the ae
~ ceptance of other peoples if W,
Oh disgrace our own by proving that
ID 1t is, after all, no protection t.
u the weak 4?
= every mob contributes t.
:, German lies about the Unitet
States what her most gifted liar
cannot improve upon by the way
of calumny. They can at leas
- say that such things cannot hap
pen in Germany except in times
of revolutions, when law !
:, swept away.
49, ASKS EVIL BE ENDED.
he ct therefore very earnestl
to and solemnly beg that tn
m governors of all the states. tn
ed law officers of every community
m. and above all, the men and WON
r.. en- in the United States, all VIII
an revere America and wish to keel
of her name without stain or re
in proach, will co-operate-not pas
of sively merely, but actively an
iii watchfuIly to make an end {
IS this disgraceful evil. 1t cannt
nj. live where the community doe
ri. not countenance it
Ia. II have called upon the Natio
,rk to put it's great energy into TIL
ar. war, and it has responded-r
.ek sponded with spirit and
of gen US for action that has thrills
.