The sun., 1919-07-05
Mr.. Wilson'S Appeal Against Mob
Rule and What Came OF 1t.

One year ago this month President
WILSON issued a statement, addressed
to his fellow countrymen, on the sub
ject of mob spirit and mob action. In
this he declared that every Amerl.
can who takes part in the action OF a
mob or gives any sort of countenance
is no true son of this great democ-
racy, but its betrayer." Mr.. WILSON
did not mention particularly the lynch
ing of negroes in the South, but that
he had this evil In mind appeared
certain from the wording OF one para
graph Of his address:
81 therefore very earnestly and
solemnly 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 CO.
operate-not passively merely. but
actively and watchfully--to make an
end Of this dlsgraceful evil 1t can
not live where the community does
not countenarce It."
THE Sun, which has not begrudged
Its approval to the President when
ever he has acted or spoken for the
good of the United States, declared
on the occasion of this particular
statement that every word uttered by
Mr.. WILSON In condemnation OF mob
law was Sound, true and beyond con-
troversy." And we we're not without
hope that the section which has ap-
peared to be so devoted to Mr.. WILSON
and which has received from him and
his Congresses such vast substantial
benefit would hearken to the obvious
truths the President spoke.
What has been the result? We
shall not compile a list of the lynch
ings that have occurred in the United
States since the President made his
solemn protest on July &c, 1918, but
offer instead n brief chronological
statement of the worst horrors that
have occurred in the first six months
of the present year; not ordinary
lynchings, but illegal executions of
negroes in which the mob was not
content with rope or bullet but in
sisted upon stake and torch:
January 20-BRAGG WILLIAMS, who
had been convicted of the murder of
n woman and her child and had been
sentenced TO be hanged on February
81, was taken from the Jail at Hills
horo. Tex, and burned alive In the
presence of 800 persons.
March 4-JUDGE JOHNSON. charged
with attacking white woman. was
taken from sheriff and burned at
me stake in Castlebcrry, Fla. On
that date President WILSON made an
address in this city expressing his
amazement that among the critics of
his covenant there should he such "a
comprehensive ignorance Of the state
of the world"
May benny RICHARDS, accused
of killing his divorced wife and wound
Ing four white men, was hanged and
shot to death and his body brought to
Warrenton, Ga, and burned In the
presence Of 300 persons.
May 1+-LLoYD CLAY. charged with
criminal assault, was burned alive. In
the city Of Nicksburg, Miss, by n mob
Of 1000 persons.
May 21-FRANK LIvINsroN, accused
Of killing his employer and his en-
ployer'S wife, was tied to a tree and
burned to death by n mob of 80
whites and negroes at Fl Dorado. Ark.
June 26-JoHN HARTFIEID, charged
with criminal assault, was hanged,
shot and burned to death at Ellis
Vile, Miss.
SO in six months there have been
six declarations, expressed in the most
form, Of the contempt felt
in Southern communities for the law
and incidentally for the sincere ap-
peal made by Mr.. WILSON less than
a year ago. Five States have been
The offenders, the State with two
black marks being Mississippi, whose
Governor less than week ago ex-