Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-09-23
TOLERATED RUFFIANs.
A Graphic Description Of a WeiI-known
and Unpleasant character-The
Pet Assassin OF the South
and West.

1t Is well known thSt in many
towns OF the South and West there
are not unfrequently one or more
scoundrels who, starting from leve
Of social respectability, and keeping
themselves decent in all other respects
than violent deeds Of blood, walk free
and unhsrmed through the village
streets with gang of admirers hang
ing around them to praise their "eX.
plOits." The New Orleans PicGyifn,
saws that all such should be made tC
feel the prompt, rough, stern, relent-
less hand Of Justice, and it says:
There is scarcely a town in Louis
lana, Mississippi, Arkansas, or Tex
as. without its pet desperate. tt is
the same throughout the whole South.
The border States, Virginia, Ken
lucky, and Missouri, are just as bad.
The Far West is far worse, and the
States Of the Northwest have their
own record also. Sometimes these
rascals are described as only danger
GUS when drunk, but at ordinary
times extremely polite and pacific. 1t
will be found, however, that It takes
about half gallon of spirits to get
one Of them Ia his normal condition
Of inebriety, and that when he is
alcohoIicaIly y made fully unconscious
he is more than g mOnOmaniac, with
a diseased propensity to Kill.
"These Young fellows (they sre gen.
orally young, for whisky claims its
own, and kills them long before mid
die age), arc usually respectable in
Darentage and kin. Sometimes they
bear professional diplomas. But in
many cases they have thrOng OF ad-
mirers and followers, men who will
talk volubly, II not elOquently, Of
their prOwess and achievements, and
who stand ready at any time to urge
them on to acts OF bloody scoUndrel-
ism. They are not altogether respOn-
sibIe for their villany; the foolish peO-
pie who tolerate them socially, are,
In part, accessories of their diabOlism.
The writers who excuse and extenu-
ate their wickedness are also sharOrs
in their crimes. They are known to
be murderers, and yet within range
Of thirty miles around his home each
nav count a hundred companions
who do not scruple Of being seen on
any occasion in his company. When
he at Isst dies by violence (seldom at
the hands of the law, there are mean
apologists ready to speak OF some
quality which would be a merit in
any other character. After he Is dead,
a victim to his own villany, 1t Is mar
rated that he was a desperate chaTac-
ter, the author Of a dozen hOmicides;
but his red and brutal biography is
gilded with praise Of his daring, and
touched of with eloquent apologies
for his crimes. 1t is told how valiant
Iy be fought as a soldier "a doubtful
tale, for no bad man can be a good
soldier in any cause and the standing
and merit IF his parents, his ancestry
and his kindred are dWelt upon, even
though it may be well known that a
worthy father is ashamed Of the vii
IainOus, numbering, base, and bloody
young drunksrd that bears his name.
SIT is q plausible theory that we
have a complete right to exterminate
these marauders. They are danger
Gus. They threaten the peace Of so
eiety at every turn. They are spirits
Of evil. They are enemies OF good
order. They are corrupt and cor
ruptOrs. They are vile and the cen
tres of villaiuy. They are base and
make all around them base. They
are the enemies Of order and So
ciety. Therefore we might be glad to
see a war of determination waged
against them. and q reward Of money
and honor set upon the head of each
one of them. The capture, trial, con-
victiOn and execution Of no more
than twenty Of this class in each State
land no State is without a score Of
them would restore tranquility and a
sense OF security. 1t might be q le-
gitimate, an honorable and fashioDa-
BE pursuit, among gentlemen to hunt
these beasts and murderOus monsters
and to exterminate them. And when
ever a youth Of dissipated, inebriate
and desperate habits is found, he
ought TO be watched with extreme
care, advertised, and at proper time
lnc8rcerated.