The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1870-02-12

ed weapons lies OF course at the
bottom of this sort of murder, and
though the laws are rigid enough
on the point, they are not rigidly
Here Public Opinion
is at fault. 1t actually makes it
self accessory to murder by re-
fusing condemnation and punish
ment.
Nor are these ordinary instances
of murder the only examples
which pass lightly through the
courts and are presently dismissed
from the public mind. Any man
may recall a dozen murders more
or less brutal and palpable in
their kind which have resulted in
acquital. Indeed, conviction has
become the exception and not the
rule; and Public Opinion in many
cases offers a premium upon MUIR.
der, or at least discounts the bill
Of indictment at a rate which
leaves the murderer little or moth
ing to pay. The laws, affected by
Public Opinion, are loosely con-
strued. The lawyers are not only
ingenious but bold. We punish
rape; we punish perjury; we punish
theft; we punish arson. Why!
Because the doors of these deeds
are generally a lot Of poor devils
who were made for the gallows
and for State prisons. But muir
der, the deepest,and foulest crime
known among men, is least pun
ished of all crimes, and, when it
happens to be done by man who
has money and trends enough to
pay for it, is not punished at ali,
nor even required to pay for it.
The law provides Il remedy for
every mans grievances. Ii he
has been cheated or wronged in
any way, if be fears for his proper
ty Or his life, there is redress al
his very elbow. What does Pub
lie Opinion say? 1t says that it is
cOwardly to ask the protection OF
the law. 1t says 'take the law
into your own hands" This
splendid, gentlemanly, aristocrat.
ical, fashionable, chivalric Public
i Opinion does not consider it COW
ardly to carry concealed weapons
and to draw them upon unarHed
antagonists. Not at all. That is
a matter of taste among gentle
men. If a man is not armed it il
his misfortune and not the fault
of the gentleman who, being arm
!, ed, takes his life.
In all this Public Opinion
: which piQues itself upon its exalt
ed sense OF gallantry and decenc!
any justice, is at once misguided
brutal and uncivilized. 1t flies il
the face Of its own interest ant
safety, as we'll as in the face o
| humanity, enlightenment anC
common sense. All of us know
the experience of war showed II!
eonclusively-that lighting men
| never make good soldiers an,
t more than good citizens. The dis
t tinguished fighting men" wer,
9 not heroes in-the war. Many o
them showed the white feather Oh
the first fire, and few. or none 0
$ them were capable of snbjectin!
e themselves to the discipline o
! martial life, or enduring the hard
e ships and privations of a Ion!
: campaign. There is great dir
1 ference between morbid taste TO
: brawls and an honest stomach 70
: actual battle. The man who i
I, quick to quarrel, rude of speech
1 ready to draw weapons and shoe
i them, is not a man of the best gri
: or nerve. The very reverse. |
$ is because he is nervous if no
). cowardly, because he lacks. juds
t ment and self-possession, becaus
d fear humans him, that he is sue
: den and dangerous. a brave ma
;; Is not sensitive about his courage
II he is not readily startled int
II needless Selfdefense. He is coz
d and peaceful; able, because he
L cool, to discriminate between res
y and fancied danger; and, becans
d he is peaceful, not over eager t
II be insulted in order that he ma
IL show bis valor unfairly. The vi
S est murders are those that sprin
} from the vilest cowardice; for the
vi are wanton in themselves an
II the result of wanton fear.
$, Public Opinion is, after al
:, chiefly responsible. The laws al
Il clear and adequate. The mater
IS al for examples is abundant. Blu
e until our notions about honor b.
'e come wiser and purer; until OF
e code of gentlemanly ethics b
pOnnS lass 11uaY.ila on6 oh;IJirJ