The independent. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Kan.) 1860-1874, 1864-12-10
Seif-Proteciion.

SeI-fIotecC01.
Lswlessness and lawless characters
have become SO bad, and daring in their
depredations in many places, that the
homes. citizens have banded together
for se!i-protection. In one neigbbor-
hood twenty-six horses were stolen in
one night by gang Of thieves; in an
other neighborhood six were stolen: in
another four, and in others ,one and two.
So fagrant have become these lawless
acts duri"g the past few months, tha,
the farmers in many places are getting
discouraged. and are reported as desir-
ing and designing 10 leave the State for
some place where they can have security
for their property.
There can be but one result growing
out of such state of things; and that
is. that the development Of the country
will be greatly retarded. 10 The loss Of
all who remain in the Safe.
We know that these things have char
acisrized the early sei,.emen; of all new
countries; and in many of the now older
States, this lawlessness was mu:h grea.
er than it now is In Kansas. We know
too. that The present unhappy condition
of the nation is seized upon By bad men
TO carry on, their evil designs; bu, these
things arc no excuse for lawlessness;
nor will they prevent The unavoidable
consequences which must 1ow from Tie
prevalence of crime-the slower devei-
opment of our State in all departments
of industry.
Every horse-thisf is public enemy.
He not only iujures those from whom
he steals. but he Injuries all tie settlers
IN Kansas; for his acts tend TO keep the
State from improvement, and the cou.
sequence is, that lands and property do
not rise in value half as fast as they wo'd d
il perfect security for life and property
were felt throughout our bounds.
There is no doub. al all. bat that the
lswlessness which has been and sill is,
30 a considerable extent. exsan. in our
State. has retarded tie general improve
ment Of the country to an extent rx-
ceeding ten times the amount OF the
property stolen. Each mans individual
loss is thus made to react upon the en-
tire people. and the result is, the whole
State suffers and is kept poorer. just be
cause Of the crimes Of few individuals
who practice dishonesty for living
thus putting back the growth o! ou'
young State, instead Of Iaboring for ii.
development.
1t is not to be wondered at, Ina. he
honest portion of community are taking
ac,ion in this matter, AMI that organjzs
ticns for mutual protection are spring.
ing up all ever the State. The only
wonder is. that such steps were not Ia
ken sooner, for to this it must come
We :rus; the press of the State vii
speak out on this matter. ana aid the
good citizens 10 project themselves; and
that very soon the evil viii pass away
We spoke Of these things and pointed
ca: these results as sure to come, some
eighteen months ago. We did so under
a sense of duty. Some of our citizen,
though. We did wrong; others saw the
ptcessity for action. The event proves
the correctness OF cur position; and we
row begin 10 see the very condition oi
affairs We tl.en foretold as sure to come
to pass.
As the pas; is gone, and we cannot
recaiii., le; US for the future stand BIZ
good order, prevent crime OF every
kind as far as possible. and secure con
diiion of society lha. will insure .aler,
TO life and property. and our State viii
develop most rapidly;- and in the en-
hancsd value of all kinds of prepert,
The people will be amply rewarded FOR
any and all efforts tLat may be Pot iorh
TO secure this end. Possessions wiiIbe
increased in worth greatly, AID tsxes
proportionally become lighter.