Jasper County Democrat, Volume 13, Number 91, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 March 1911 — DOESN’T APPROVE LYNCH LAW. [ARTICLE]

DOESN’T APPROVE LYNCH LAW.

(Contributed.) Editor Democrat: In the issue of The Republican dated Feb. 24, I noticed an article on the recent Colton case. While the crime was particularly revolting, and there can not be any defense offered, the outburst of the Republican editor is to be as strongly condemned almost as the offense with which 'Colton was charged. This is a law-abiding and peace-loving community, and the advocacy of mob-law, with all its attendant disgrace, Can not be frowned on too strongly. Only those who have witnessed the awful spectacle of a blood-thirsty, murder mad mob in action can have any Idea of what the Republican has suggested on the spur of the moment, let us hope. The average lynching costs more in dollars and cents than, innumerable trials. And it leaves a stain on the name of a commonwealth that neither money nor time can ever efface. Lynching for any crime, no matter how heinous, is a relic of barbarism and the primitive. Thinking men do their utmost to prevent such affairs in all states in this country, and newspapers should be the last to advocate wilful violations of the laws of their country and their Maker. “Thou shalt not kill,” is an axiom that the Republican editor can well afford to popder on. Newspapers are supposed to be teachers taken editorially, and in no case should any paper suggest, let alone advocate in plain terms: Premeditated murder, for the acts of a mob when incited to lynch by the papers or a few hot-headed k>rators can be called nothing less than murder and leaders of mobs have been tried and convicted of murder in several parts of the country. Of course, few, if any, of the better class of citizens of Jasper county would give the lynching idea a second thought, but advocating such theories do not have the tendency to inculcate in the minds of the younger generation the fact that the law is absolutely no respecter of persons, nor ideas. Every criminal is entitled to a fair trial, and if the punishment for the crime seems inadequate that can not be remedied by the violation of . other laws.— Law-abiding Citizen.