Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1918-08-01
MOB ACTION SCORED
BY NATIONS HEAD
PRESIDENT WILSON DECLARES
VIOLENCE AIDS GERMAN
PROPAGANDA HERE.
Chief Executive Calls Upon Nation to
Show World That While II Fights
for Democracy Abroad II 10 Not
Destroying Democracy at Home.

personal statement issued on July u
addressed to his fellow countrymer
denounced mob spirit and mob action
called upon the nation to show tn
world that while 1t fights for democ
racy on foreign fields, 1t is not destroy
Ing democracy ut home.
The president denounced most EN-
phatically mob action of all sorts. espe
cially lynchings, and while he did mo-
refer specifically TO lynchings of ne
groes in the south, IL is known that h,
included them in his Characterization
Of mob spirit rs "a blow AT the heart
IF ordered law and humane justice"
The presidents statement. in full,
follows:
my fellow countrymen: l take the
liberty of addressing you upon sub
ject 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 1t.
Il allude to the mob spirit which
has recently here and there very fire.
quently shown its head amongst us.
not in any single region, but in many
and widely separated parts OF the
country. There have been many lynch
lngs, and every one OF them has been
blow at the heart of ordered law and
humane justice. 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 MOI 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.
I'VE are at this very moment fight.
Ing lawless passion. Germany has out
lawed herself among the nations be-
cause she has disregarded the sacred
obligations of law and has made lynch
FRS OF her armies. Lynchers emulate
ler dlsgraceful example. /. for my
'art, am anxious to see every commun- |
~ In America rise above that level.
win pride and n fixed resolution which /
10 man or set OF men can afford TO de-
pise.
We proudly claim to he the cham
lions of democracy. II we really are
n deed and in truth. let us see TO II
hat we do not discredit our own.
NY plainly that every American who
lRes part In the action Of mob or
ives any sort Of countenance is no
rue son Of this great democracy. but
: betrayer. and does more 10 discredit
er by that single disloyalty To her
OF law and OF right Than the
orus OF her statesmen or the sacri-
res oil her heroic boys In the trenches
IN do to make suffering peoples be.
eve her to be their saviour. How
'hii We commend democracy To the ac.
'ptance OF other peoples II We dis.
ace our own by proving that II Is
TER all, no protection to the weakf
very mob contributes TO German 10.
'out the United States what her mos,
ited liars cannot improve upon nv
e way OF calumnv.
Il therefore very earnestly ana col.
1nly beg that the governors Of nh m.
ites, the law officers of very com.
unity, ana, above all. the mon ana
'nen OF every community In the ,
'l'ed States, all who revere Amerlc,
WISH 10 keep her name william, :
''n or reproach, VIII co-operate-no,
sslvely merely. but actively and =
tchfully. to make an end of This M.
'ceiui evil. II cannot live where the :
immunity does not countennnce II :
nave called upon the nation In n
i's great energy into this war and n
mas sponded-responded Win a a
rit ana genius for action thut has q
'"en 'lie world. | now call upon II b
:" us men and women everywhere II
see 10 1t that Its laws are ken, In 4.
"'e' It's fame untarnished. I,et ma
/" our utter contempt for the things
nave made this war bIdeou.
Jug me wars of history by shown ri
'hose who love liberty and rich N
JUSTICE and are willing TO Inv do,.r n,
+ h'es for them upon foreign ea,a. RI
~ ready also to illustrate 10 au ii
'N'nu ,neir loyalty to the things nj 50
" winch they wish to 500 sst.h M
"a everywhere us blessing and di
e'',on 10 the people who bavs fe
= known the privilege of liberty &c
self-goyernment. n,
can never accept any mon ..
np'on OF liberty either for our.
90 VI lor me world who does ma,
ne sn'e ana obey the laws Of our III
Do ho'.s anu whose laws we our 10
darn, ~ "a'e made He has adopted the tn
illus ,., OF the enemies OF his conn. ne
whom ne affects to despIse. wi
WOODROW WILSON XII