Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1869-07-30
Plain Words on Familiar.
IOpicS..

If there Is one wretch who more
than any other deserves and receives
the undisguised contempt and hatred
of all decent men it is the cowardlv
brute who assaults with his filthy
tongue unprotected females, who
may be so unfortunate as to be COM
PEELED to be in his vicinity. We have
been 10th to believe that any such
were in our midst, although, from
time to time we have heard rumors
that would indicate the presence of
such nuisances. During the past few
weeks, however, occurrences have
taken place which no longer leave
room for doubt on the matter. Com
plants are frequently made that in
suiting language is addressed r.
young girls in our public streets, end
In one instance a young lady has
been indecent!y assaulted by young
VagaEond VINO is in training for the
gallows, unless the doors of a peni-
Tertiary mercifully open to receive
him ere long. AS these outrages are
committed after nightfall, and the
ladies in their fright are un-
able to identify the scoundrels. thew
have SO far escaped the punishment
they SO richly merit, but our citizens
are aroused and are determined that
such conduct must cease, and should
the miserable brutes be caught it is
not improbable that a punishment
unknown to our statute law NAV be
inflicted.
In this state of things we think
parents may find food for reflection.
Pass along our streets at night and
observe the numbers of lads congre-
gated at the different corners; stop
and listen TO the conversation, the
profanity and vulgarity and then tell
me, are you willing that your boys
shall graduate i'm such school p
Where are your boys at night? Do
you know? If not, then you are
neglecting their welfare, and sowing
for yourse If bountiful harvest of re-
grets. Look to it, before it is too
late!
In this connection we will speak
of another evil which appears to be
rapidly increasing. We refer to the
fights and and ARRAYS which are of
almost daily occurrence. Up to this
time nothing very serious has grown
out of them, but how long will this
last? What assurance have we that
the next knock-down may not
result in the death of one or both
parties? 1t is no uncommon
thing in these days for boys
to carry their concealed arms, and
who can say what moment they
may be used? With all the respect
for our ministers of the law, we think
we but echo the general sentiment
when we claim that they have for q
long time past dealt too lightly with
this class of Offences, The intent of
the law is to prevent the commission
of crime, and this object will be best
attained by rendering it absolutely
certain that every violation of the !
law will be followed by an adequate
punishment. 1t is the certainty of |
punishment that restraints the COM
mission of crime. An examination
Of the dockets for years past sho VS.
but few fines Of more than five dol !
lars, and perhaps as many of one dol
lar as of all others. THIS is trifling
with justice, and instead of restrain
ing the offence serves but to encour-
age it. How often we hear the price
of knock down enquired, as though
it was a marketable commodity-a
luxury to be INDUCED in by any able
to pay the price. BY this manner of
treating these cases our people be-
come familiar with deeds of violence
and it is but another step to pistols
and knives or bludgeons.
We think it is about time that
something was done to put a quietus
upon this spirit of violence which is
abroad in the community. Let our
peace officers do their whole duty,
and we doubt not that much trouble
and bloodshed will be prevented
LET US have peace.n