The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1870-04-02
The Crimes we Hate Most.

1T ism little singular that tho
crimes most hated, and most ra
lentless!y punished by society are
those which are both morally and
legally the most insignificant
Take the offense OF theft. n Is
the hroror ofproperty -owners-the j
black sheep in the flock of crimes
All other offenses are white N -
comparison with it. Society win
ignore blasphemer; society will
take off its hat to a successful en-.
bezzeler; society will give the
highest place in the synagogue "a
brilliant defaulteg society win
pardon, and throw the mantle of
charity over score of other of.
tenders whom we will not name
here; but society has not forgive
ness for the thief. It may pity
him, but it will not forget to nun.
ish him. 1t matters not that he il
only a petty thief; SO much the
worse he is hated and despised.
and so much the straighter will
we send him to the State prison.
He may lave had the strongest
temptation for his crime, he may
be poor, hungry, and Starving.
His wife or children may be in
want, and society refuse him en-
ployment be asks for TO supply,
their necessities. It matters not.
His ofense is an offense against
property, and property is the most.
Fprecions thing in the world; there
| fore wepunisll him without mercy.
We will allow murderer to wres-
tie witFthe law and the courts, .
for weeks and months, and trim
both Of them up at last; but to
the wretch who has robbed till,G
or stolen ten dollars worth of
food, we accord no such sportive
privileges. One term OF court.
one jury, and one short trial settles
His case. Society will set strapsss
and gins and spring guns on its
premises to catch dishonest prowl--
ers who may want to steal BUSH
ell of coal, or an armful Of Wood;
and society will sit up all night
with O double-barreled fowlingr
piece to get a chance to blaze
away at the sneaking thief who
steals apples from its orchard, or
grapes from its vineyard. But
who ever heard Of society shooting
4 a bank defaulter, or embezzler, or,
fraudulent agent? Such audaci- I
ties are not permitted. DefaulterS,
embezzlers and colossal, swindlers,
i are the fayorites of society, and
4 society would resent a violence
done to them as an insult to -
self. We affect to abhor dishol :
eSty; but this means dishonesty OF
a vulgar character, and ona small
scale. When it rises to the d g.
nifty and respectability OF q wen-
bred fifty thousand dollar opera
t ton, we accord to it our undis-
guised admirations When it gees
higher still, and gets up into the
hundred thousands, it becomes
sensational and elicits not only
, our admiration and respect, but
our liveliest gratitude. We are
proud Of it. 1t is thena benefac-
) tor, foriit has furnished us with
+ an excitement, and we are always
} ready not only to have an excite
; ment at some particular individu-
!. ais expense, but tohenor the pub.
g lic-spiriJed criminal who affords it
j to us. A common act OF petty
+ larceny is a prosy, every day crime
) as human nature. 1t possesses
}. nothing to appeal to our sympa-s
J. thies, or wake our respect. But
!. complicated embellishments, pro-
r: tracted through series of years
J, gigantic official frauds-and elab-
o crate swindles and breaches Of
e trust-these are modern, brilliant
e. and striking. We would not
It know how to get along without
e them. When one of them breaks
l. in upon us, after q long and nRex.
! citing reign of honesty, we inyol-
;e unfairly thank the enterprising
operator for giving US something
70 to talk about and admire.-[S st.
" Louis Home Journal.
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