Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-08-01
Whsrs Do We Go from Here?

Whsrs Do We Go from Here?
Demand for an investigation BY
Congress Of mob violence and lynch
ing in the United States is made IN
an address to the nation signed oy
$50 citizens throughout the country
including ex-President Taft. Attor-
ney General A. Mitchell Palmer, Dr..
Henry van Dyke. the governors OF
seven states including Governor
Roberts of Tennessee. every living
ex-attorney general Of the United
States, the heads Of California. ILL
nois, Princeton, Western Reserve
Fisk and Vanderbilt Universities
Charles W. Eliot, Elihu Root,
Charles Evans Hughes. J. r. Bins-
BAN Of Mississippi and Senator Ar
thur Capper of Kansas.
The address to the nas.on Is an sui
come Of the national conference on
lynching which was held In Ne"
York City. May 5 and 6. last.
THE people Of the United States
suffer Justly under the grievous
charge that they continue to tolerate
mob murder" says the address. In
the year 1918 no less than 81 persons
we're done to death without trial Or
any process Of law, having been
denied the right to a day in court
accorded by the federal and state
constitutions to all citizens.
1T is we'll known that the innocent
with the guilty suffer the cruel in
ficticns Of mob violence. Mobs have
even invaded court rooms and prisons
to seize and murder prisoners whose
punishment already had been fxed.
Early in 1919. a hospital was invaded
by mob, and the attack resulted in
death from shock of a patient that
day operated upon"
Out Of the madness that called
more than fifty million men to arms,
cost 100000 casualties. 11,0e0, 900
lives and distress beyond description
or estimate. and 1925, 0O0. 100000 in
treasure. we see arise in place of a
chastened. repentant and ripe-for-
Righteousness world psychology Of
desperation. We see greed in forms
before unsuspected, every little
groups hand at its neighbours throat,
depths Of callosity to others pain un-
dreamed, bitterness and hatred be-
yond measure.
Calm observation is impossible, for
we see every prophecy Of a new and
better era's dawn given the lie.
every hope of reawakened love of
man for man shattered and in it's
place mans inhumanity to man ex.
emplined.
We talk Of Americas duty to
sooth. comfort and rescue the world
from its passions and its fiendish
methods. while we indulge in the
horrors Of Chicago's black belt and
OF our capital city, Washington. We
send billions boastfully to relieve
the suffering Of hemisphere that
wantonly ruined Itself, while we
suck the sustenance and souls of
millions Of American homes by trick
cry Of graft and greed.
Where do we 60 from this state Of
. red confusion? There is neither
promise Of betterment or remedy in
sight. We ask each other how long
are high prices and Corners in
necessities to last. We no longer
wonder why business does not ven
ture as it should, when we had ex-
pected undertakings beyond any
previous-to-the-war possibility. We
urge the keenest minds to predict the
outcome Of the epidemic of labor
cimculties. We learn Of depths Of
iniquity in even the mildest form Of
militarism, the American army, that
would turn US sick had we not be.
come so hardened by the brutalities
and sacrifices Of war.
Ono year ago we were Just Begin
ming to hope that out Of the prevail.
Ing cataclysm Of wars devilshness
would soon come a few feeble rays
OF dawning peace.
Peace! How we prayed for It
and cried to each other the Rlories
and sweetness Of a never ending
peace and newborn love between
men without distinction Of race or
color or creed. Oh. Lord what a
establishment! Who Of US shall
analyze the corruption that most Of
as have had hand in making per-
maps tncurable?
Yesterday we rejoiced In the dawn
Of . new day''-today we turn in
shams from Chicago. Yesterday. We
d1gcnsssd our solemn obligations a.
mandatory for new and weak or old
and perverted psopies-today. we
wonder II IN the Justice Of God the
''unspsa1abls Turk: shall not be
made The mandatory for Washington.
Racs riots ana transportation
DtrfIses. with bolshsvists ana !. W. W.
agents q HaAss hurrying thither.
chicago, Americas second great
.a><~~~>1s~ $500 -.sa - -..A - -.