If you stole a horse, you hung, and the villain accepted his punishment because he knew he d done wrong. The bad guys always got it in the end. Justice was swift. The good guy came out on top. Today the criminal has more rights in court than the victim.
Cowboys are a major part of American folklore.
The mythical cowboy represents a time when there was a clear line between good and evil, a time when good men always rally around the sheriff when the bank is robbed. They wear white hats. They never compromise their beliefs. They marry the girl with the good heart, not the one with the flash and dazzle. They treat all women with respect.