The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1873-01-05

mons s-shassSnoe mef6 nsGestedt to cttis
tzene thore the possibi bilitiss o. Lynch laN1
}Th6 New., York Tina Wkich Has been
exercised considerably "a; The past over
talleged K1JKlux crimes I'm the South;
has long article demanding TO know
s'what We shall do about murder" II
declares: 1--WE record about one mnrder
. day In New York proper, and nobody
is punished, and indeed it seems difficult
to have anybody tried" If such state
OF things existed in any Of the Southern
States. the Albany Penitentiary would
have to be considerably enlarged. It is
terrible condition of affairs, beyond all
doubt. And the difficulty of applying
legal remedies in Now York may be in
ferred from the talk in which the Times
INDUCES, that "when freedom has dege-
nerated into license, and law becomes
only protector OF criminals, despotism
ih some form is always called in to take
ment of reaction. It comes like tenn
pest, but it does clear the air."
The Times then goes on to tell how q
former despotic. Governor General of
Cuba, Tacon, put On end to the fire.
quenoy of murders in Havana, where
that crime had become as common as in
new YORK. One morning, about dozen
bodles were discovered in the streets,
stabbed to death. In the course of the
day, Tacon sent for the chief of police,
| who presented himself at the vicereeal
palace. "Where are the murderers of
those men who were killed last evening?
Have you arrested themP" "Where,
your Excellency? How should I know?
l do not even know who they are. I
have mado inquiries, but have been able
to discover nothing. Your Exceliency
Will see that 1t is impossible that there
should be any arrests" II see no suoh
thlng, SAID iacon, rising in Ills wrath.
LOOK you here, sir; And me the men
who committed those murders before
three days are over, or. on the fourth, 1
isnov ml garrose|yGx .N"t oiS Bn'. a your Excel.
take their place" Accordingly, the chief
OF police found the required number,
though whether they were the actual
CRIMINALS or not IL uncertain. At any
rate, they were garroted without delny,
and assassination began to diminish ra-
pidly in Havana.
The Times goes on to indicate that
the despotism of mob, say of a vigi-
lance committee, (olias Ku Klu1,) is
more terrible than that of single 60
vernment, and that when this sort of
despotism ruled in San Francisco, "from
that time order dwelt within the golden
gates. OF course. it hopes that no
such disgrace and horror will fpll
upon New York, but the drift of its
meaning is Perceptible enough. The re-
cital Of these facts is sufficient to show
the appalling prevalence and impunity
OF murder in New York.
| The last victim and his murderer there
were men prominent in their way, and
they grappled with each other in the
street like wild beasts, and the murderer,
with his victim under him, unable to
make efectual resistance, cut him to
death with repeated blows of his Bowie
knife. The GOODNESS and indifference he
manifested after the deed and at the
time OF his arrest were subject of gene
al remark, though we now learn that his
defence will be that he committed the
act in paroxysm of rage, having been
excited to frenzy by Duryea's tannts and
q knowledge of his own straitened mo-
netary condition. In other words, the
unfortunate Mr.. Simmons will seem to
have been o victim of temporary insa.
nifty. malady which the best men are
moral responsibility.
! A' AZ oONAOu"s AoHSfcT, Luat ~ every
man who suffers from the "taunts" of an
enemy, or from his 'straitened mono
tary condition" is going into ''frenzy''
about it, and can only relieve himself by
killing somebody, the population of this
planet is likely to be seriously dimi-
nishod. The very mention of such de-
fence in any country where the laws are
impertially and efficiently administered
would cause general smile of derision.
Almost simultaneously with this fresh
New York atrocity, the second trial of
Stokes. for the "alleged murder" OF
Fisk, has commenced. It is nearly q
year since this ''aleged murder" has
occurred. and it remains yet to be settled
whether Stokes was guilty, or is an limo
cent and much-injured man, incarce-
rated for SO long period unjustly. In
view OF such developments as these, it is
much to be feared that, unless the foun.
tains of Justice are purified in New York,
the dreadful alternative of Lynch law.
suggested by the Times. will yet disgrace
the chief metropolis of this country.
A PAsTon's REWARD. That good,
faithful pastoral work is appreciated in