The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1918-08-02
President Appeals to All Ameri-
cans to End "Disgrace-
full Evil"
NATIONS HONOR AT STAKE
Chief Executive Declares That Men
Who Countenance Mob Rule
Are EmuIating Example
Of Germany.

Washington, July 29.-President
Wilson placed lynchers squarely on
the side of Germany.
In a stirring denunciation Of mob
rule and plea to all Americans "to
make an end of this disgraceful evil"
he declared that any man who even so
much as cOuntenanced mob action Is q
betrayer of American democracy and
adopts the standards of the enemies
Of his country, whom he affects to de-
spise."
The presidents statement, addressed
TO my fellow cOuntrymen," was in
spired by the numerous lynchings Of
which suspected prO-Germans were
the victims. 1t Is understood, however,
that the lynching of Robert B. Praeger
at Collinsville, Ill.,, last April was re-
sponslble, more than any other for the
presidents appeal today.
The text Of the presidents state
ment follows:
My Fellow Countrymen: take the
liberty Of addressing you upon a 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.
II allude to the mob spirit which has
recently here and there very frequently
shown its head amongst us, not In any
single regiCn, but in many and widely
separated parts Of the country. There
have been many lynchings, and every
one Of them has been blow at the
heart Of ordered law and humane JUS
tlce. 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 JUS
tify 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. We are at
this very moment fighting lawless pas
sion. Germany has Outlawed herself
among the nations because sheh dis
regarded the sacred obligations of law.
I'VE proudly claim to be the cham
pions OF democracy. If we really are,
indeed, and in truth, let us see to 1t
that we do not discredit our own. I
say plainly that every American who
takes part I'm the action Of mob or
gives 1t any sort Of countenance Is
no true son Of this great democracy.
but Its betrayer, and does more to dis.
credit her by that single disloyalty to
her standards of law and of right than
the words Of her statesman or the sac
riices 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 acceptance Of other peoples, If we
disgrace our own by proving that it is,
after all, no protection to the weak :?
Every mob contributes to German lies
about the United States.
II therefore very earnestly and SOL
emnly beg that the governors of all
the states, the law officers of every
community, and above all, the men
and women of every community in
the United States, oil who revere
America and wish her name without
stain or reprOach, will cooperate
not passively. merely, bat actively
and watchfully-to make an end Of
this disgraceful evil. 1t cannot live
where the community does not coun.
tenance it.
II have called upon the nation TO
put it's great energy into this war
and 1t has responded-respOnded with
Il spirit and genius for action that
has thrilled the world. l now call
upon 1t, upon its men and women
everywhere, to see to ii that It's laws
are kept inviolate, It's fame untar.
nished. Let us show our utter con.
tempt for the things that have made
this war hideous among the 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 everywhere as
n blessing and protection to the peO-
pies who have never known the priv
ilege Of liberty and self-government.
can never accept any man as cham
plon of liberty either for ourselves
or for the world who does not rever.
ence and obey the laws Of our own be-
loved land, whose laws we ourselves
have made. He has adopted the stand
ards of the enemies of his country.
whom he affects to despise.
(Signed) WOODROW WILSON,"