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AN pblTORIAL VIEW POINT
The disgraceful, flaming spirit of mob violence is, perhaps, after all not so COMPLETELY mystifying, when considered in the light of irresponsibility manifested under stress of excitement.
A case in point is the estimable Baltimore Sunpaper.
"The Eastern Shore has reaped its reward" is the burden of a vitriolic editorial in last Saturday morning's edition, in which that newspaper virtuously assails an entire topographical unit of Maryland, because it happens that, in several sections of that unit, mob spirit has reared its ugly head.
But, not even parenthically or by insinuation, does the editorial vouchsafe the slightest sympathy, respect or consideration for those OTHER sections of the Eastern Shore which bear no closer relation to the spirit of the mob than does Baltimore itself.
"The Eastern Shore—for four weeks its officials and its responsible citizens have yielded ground."
Of course the Baltimore Sunpaper should know and DOES know that there are NO officials '' of the Eastern Shore.'' It knows that EACH county has its OWN officials, and the efficiency or inefficiency of those officials IS chargeable to the INDIVIDUAL counties as units and NOT to the Eastern Shore as a WHOLE. But, under the stress of emotion and ex-
door of EVERY Eastern Shoreman, is com miting an unfair, inflammatory and unjustifiable act of irresponsibility.
It is such an unbecoming and glaring display of injustice that The Observer, one of the humbler brethern of the great metropolitan press, raises its feeble voice in protest. \But it is a protest that echoes in the heart of ALL that Eastern Shore country which has been unjustly assailed.
"The Eastern Shore has reaped its reward" only because the Baltimore Sunpaper, and other journals have emblazoned to the world a false theory and a maliciously false picture of the truth.
Queen Annes county—16,000 Eastern Shoremen—had no more physical or spirtual part in the mob demonstration, than did the people of Baltimore, Maryland or Pasadena, California. But with that same flaming spirit of irresponsibility under stress of excitement that was shown by the mobs themselves, the Baltimore Sunpaper promptly sets about to defame the character and integrity of all Eastern Shoremen; to question the intelligence and wisdom of ALL Bastern Shore Courts and to reflect upon the efficiency and diligence of ALL Eastern Shore officials.
The Sunpaper editorial, in itself, is, after
all, the very best answer to the question of how and why irresponsible action flames
citement, an editorial writer, whose obvious i under stress of excitement or emotion which
business and duty is to express a fair standard of criticism or condemnation, makes the same mistake as the mob he properly pillories.
For, not satisfied with attacking the brutal wrongfulness of mob vengeance—in itself a most flagrant violation of organized law— the Baltimore Sunpaper editorial wallops the whole people of the Eastern Shore—individually and collectively—irrespective of the guilt or innocence of the acts or sentiments.
The BaltimajB jjfnpaper editorial, in arbitrarily placinjBtii^pllame for the mob at the
snaps or saps intelligent judgment.
Law abiding, law respecting citizens of Queen Annes County RESENT The Sunpaper's vicious and unfair indictment in exactly the same way that they resent the mob spirit that has prevailed in certain shore sections. Hastily written editorials like that in last Saturday's Sunpaper which would wreck character and blast reputation, are very closely akin to the thoughtless, inconsiderate, brutal spirit which actuates and guides the hand of the mob in its mission of death or pillage.
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