The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1868-11-01
BloodShed.

scene of several outbreaks of q riOtOu
character. Various collisions, resulting
bloodshed, have taken place, and for
while the whole community was agitate
with the apprehension of q sanguinar
strife. It is to be hoped that all danger (
this kind 10 now past. Lawless bloodshei
unless in strict self defence, never does an
good, 9s''' ',.t''1 ..'' e..e A.,.
Z It is true that brutes force sometimes cal
ries a desired point under the impulse {
passion; but the fruit which is plucke
with bloody hand is accursed. Th
Almighty is the great disposersof events
He never requires men to effect their end
by means of criminal excesses. If an oh
|ject apparently desirable is approved b.
Him, he always furnishes the aopportunit.
and honorable means of attaining it, and i
the object is not approved by Him, ant
4 placed within the reach of innocent exer
ton, it may be certainly recognized as mo-
fexpedient for u.s. It may indeed be seized
by force, regardless Of wrong, and triumph
may crown the transaction with appa-
rent success, but real success would be a
victory over God. He can neither be cheat
ed nor despised. The triumph of evil is
ruin. E&
Of course, society is imperfect in it's Or
ganization, and moments recur> when men
are thrown back upon the first laws of ma
ture for government. Self defense D. para
mount to everything else, and when the
laws fail to protect they are disregarded.
But it is evident thai the danger must be
imminent and serious. When men are at
tackled with dangerous weapons, they may
kill their adversaries ; but to carry on the
conflict afterwards in cool blood, and against
unarmed, perhaps innocent parties, is sim
ply assassination.
This is a crime, and not justifable by any
emergency of any kind. 1t is crime pc
culiarly unmanly and cowardly, and there
fore extremely distasteful to our people.
The men who stood by Lee to the last
and who form an important
element of this community, are soldiers not
they can charge over deadly bat
teries, but they leave to meaner spirits the
task of hunting down runaway negroes.
We do not know of any actual occurrence
Of the ruthless character referred to, but
many persons seemed to think at one time
that a movement of determination mightbe
expected at any moment. 1t may be re-
that in periods of excitement the |
calmest and most humane men sometimes
catch the pervading influence, and applaud
acts which they would never dream of per-
petrating. We have heard discreet, benev-
olent and even pious persons contend quite
gravely that a just idea of self-defense in
cluded the plan of putting the dangerous
element out of existence, and that, too, even
if the process should involve some innocent
persons. Yet these same men would deprive
themselves of comforts to relieve a suffering
negro.
This excited way Of talking, so different
from the convictions evinced by the speak
ers in their own acts, is not as harmless
as many who indulge in it may suppose.
He who encourages crime is guilty of it.
ALI such conversation augments the general
and gives countenance to the
such sentiments by silence, might help to
precipitate conflict, the end of which
would be hidden in the unknown future.
Let no human blood be shed lightly.
LUNCH SALooN.-Mr. B. McKenna, with the
'iew of accommodating his numerous friends
md patrons, has attached a Restaurant and
lunch Saloon TO his Soda Water and Confec-
ionary establishment. This completes the at
ractions of the old stand, corner of Canal and {
>auphine streets, and cannot fail to augment {
he popularity of Mr.. McKenna, whose efforts
o meet the wishes of his customers have been |
Universally recognized and appreciated. See {
office.
Mr.. George Ellis, bookseller, stationer, s
nd newsdealer, No. Old Levee street, {
pposite the POST Office, has sent us the