The Colorado statesman., 1918-08-03
WILSON, IN PERSONAL STATE
MENT, DENouNcEs MOB kc..
TIoN AND MOB SPIRIT.
GREAT ENERGY IN WAR
SAYS LAWLESS PASSION is VERY
THING AMERICA is NOW
FIGHTING AGAINST.
Western Newspaper Union News Service.

Western Newspaper Union News Service.
Washington.-Pres Wilson, Fri
day, in personal statement ad-
dressed to his fellow countrymen, de-
nouncins mob spirit and mob action,
called upon the nation TO show the
world that while it fights for democ-
racy on foreign fields it is not de-
stroying democracy at home.
The President 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, il is known that
he included them in his characterlza-
ton of mob spirit as "a blow at the
heart of ordered law and humane JUS
tice"
The President saiG, in part:
MY Fellow Countrymen-I take the
liberty of addressing you upon a SUB
ject which SO vitally 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.
81 allude to the mob spirit which
has recently here ard there very fire.
uuently 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
ings and every one of them has been
a 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 10 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 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
ers of her armies. Lynchers emulate
her disgraceful example. |, from my
heart, am anxious to see every COM
munity in America rise above that
level with pride and a fixed resolution
which no man or set of men can afford
to despise.
Il 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, all who revere America
and wish to keep her name without
stain or reproach, will seek-not pass
lively merely, but actively and watch
fully-to make an end of this disgrace
full evil. 1t cannot live where the
community does not countenance it.
Il have called upon the nation to
put its great energy into this war and
it has responded - responded with
spirit and a genius for action that has
thrilled the world. ! now call upon it,
upon its men and women everywhere,
to see to it that its laws are kept in
violate, its fame untarnished. Let us
show our utter contempt 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 on foreign fields,
stand ready also to illustrate TO all
mankind their loyalty to the things at
home which they wish to see estab-
/ lished everywhere.
81 can never accept any man as a
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 our
selves have made. He has adopted the
standards of the enemies of his coun-
try, whom he affects to despise.