They look for a victim to chivy, and howl him down, and finally lynch him in a sheer storm of sexual frenzy which they honestly imagine to be moral indignation, patriotic passion or some equally allowable emotion, it may be an innocent Negro, a Jew like Leo Frank, a harmless half-witted German; a Christ-like idealist of the type of Debs, an enthusiastic reformer like Emma Goldman.

Summary

This quote refers to the tendency of certain individuals or groups to seek out and persecute a target, driven by a frenzy of emotion that they believe to be morally justified. The victims mentioned range from innocent minority members like a Negro or a Jew, to individuals like Leo Frank who faced unjust treatment due to their identities. The quote also highlights the persecution faced by those who advocate for social change or challenge the established order, such as Eugene Debs or Emma Goldman. In essence, this quote underscores the danger of mob mentality and how it can lead to the oppression of others.

Topics