Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-08-28
WHICH SHALL RULEl

WHICH SHALL RULEi
The worst aspect in whics our Ameri-
can society appears is rufianism and
contempt of authority. Thousands in
all sections conduct themselves as II
law were an obstruction, an outrage,
and to be broken whenever it interieres
with the free play of the passions.
The class that thinks and feels thus is
in open rebellion against society ana
civilization. Law is the collected will
of the majority of the people, but 1t is
not the will of rufiianism, for ruihanism
has no will but such as is stimulated by
passion. Not only one man, but col
lections of men, acting together in per
feet harmony, plot, plan and execute
violations of the law. What was the
New York riot but an exhibition on the
part of those engaged in it of contempt,
not only for the municipal laws of that
State, but for all law2 What was the
insult to Mrs. Sherman but contempt
for law and for the customs of civiliza-
ton. The courtesy which an Arab
accords to woman was denied by the
ruiians of New York to the wife of the
Commander-in-C Chief of the army of
the United States. A man conceives
that he hates some one; he does
not know why; but he hates
him. He knows that. 1t is all he
wishes to know. He plans a collision,
with all the advantages on his side. He
deliberately it is cool deliberation-
executes his purpose. No matter what
the circumstances are, except in clear
case of self-defense, every such act is
not only murder, but treason against
government and var on civilization.
Many cases of homicide are excusable,
and they are so ruled to be by the
courts, because the intent to violate the
law is wanting. In the old countries the
law is sternly executed. None are too
high or too low for its vengeance. The
nobleman and the street-sweeper stand
alike before judge who cannot be in
undated, and in the presence of a jury
that cannot be bought. There, an oath
means an oath, and woe to him who vio
lates it. Monarchies as they are they
give what they promise; but they infal-
libby punish acts which they prohibit.
Through ages of blood they have ar
rived at this, simply this-the objective
point of all government But in this
country juries have been packed or
bought, and men clearly proved to be
guilty of murder have been acquitted,
when every juryman knew they were
guilty, and that in acquittlng them,
they sat there perjured villains. Are
the people to blame for the violence that
sweeps over the country? Do juries fail
to do their duty, and does that failure
assure outlaws? Can a man who has
money, be convicted and punished for
an infamous crime in any city in the
Union2 We doubt it, There are always
men found loafng about criminal courts
capable of being purchased either as
jurors or witnesses. A man who con-
templates a crime calculates the
chances of acquittal, and determines
his course accordingly. He knows
that there is class utterly cor
rupt, and that they not only despise
the law themselves, but they will not be
the instruments of its execution upon
others-except for pay. This class can
be bought either way. The case stands
thus: Men commit crimes with the con-
fdent expectation Of being acquitted.
No one who has money, or address, fears
the death penalty for the commission Of
murder. Nobody fears the law. If ii
is not a dead letter, it is one that is
dying. The question Of the honr is
shall the law rule or shall the wild pas
sions of individuals or mobs domineer
The issue is made, and must be met
The contest cannot be long delayed.