The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1873-06-27
From the Memphis Appcai.l
The Pistol vs. Prosperity.

tering and executing justice and law, under
which we live, is the prevalence Of violence
and the recurrence of fatal rencounters
throughout our country. We ore daily
called upon to give our readers details Of
malignant and violent assaults and batteries,
of murderous assaults with the pistol and
the knife. The telegraph is freighted with
intelligence OF homicides, aifrays, bloody
and fatal fights, until the heart sickens with
the fear that we are lapsing into the condi-
ton Of society which, if writ be true, caused
the destruction of the whole race of man,
save the eight persons miraculously saved in
the ark. We are told that "the whole land
was filled with violence" and for that God
caused "the food-gates Of heaven to be
opened" and the savage race OF violent and
bloody men to die like rats in the food.
And we are a christian people, and chris
tianity teaches 'peace on earth and good
will toward men," We claim, too, to be
par-excellence, head and shoulders above
the men Of the same ancestry in the old fogy
countries of Europe, in all the elements that
ennoble a nation, that purify and ex-
hault the citizen. Alas! an American
dwelling in or travelling through the cities,
towns, or villages Of Europe, has little de-
sire to contrast the security afored to life
and property, but especially to life, in the
land of his sojourn with that Of his nativity
or citizenship. And yet he finds sturdy
manhood in those old-fogy countries, and no
falling off from the doctrine which teaches
the inherent right Of selfdefence. How
poor a show even the splendid achieve
ments OF our countrymen in the arts aud
sciences, their brilliant and bold adventures
by sea and by land, and their successful in
ventive genius in all that touches the spring
of natural industry, quickens the pulse Of
progress or contributes to the comfort OF
home, how poor show even these make
when seen by the baneful light which flashes
: from the pistol or CLEANS from the knife in
the hands of street-brawler and breaker OF
i the peace2 The stiletto has long been the
: disgraceful symbol of private revenge in
) Spain. Shall we go on earning the repu
tation that the revolver is to the American
8 what the stlletto is to the Spaniardi Can
] brave race Of reformed American chris
I. tians afford to rival an effete and semi
+ enslaved nation Of Europe in the matter o.
D assassination Let US look at this question
I boldly in q manner worthy Of men jealous
4 OF their national reputation, and solicitoui
n. of the lives of those dear to them as theil
: own hearts blood. Why ore our people II
the habit of wearing concealed weapons
: What is there in our present social or po
r litical condition demanding this barbarou'
+ habit2 The law prohibitsgit, the safety anC
y prosperity Of society are at war with it, ant
}, the Christian church must see in it th'
+ direful cause Of the deadliest sins. Tn,
a truth is that public opinion winks at tn
). habit, and there is neither in Church no
State power enough to still the voice 0
/. public opinion. That opinion can only b
b reaf bed through the efficacy Of moral sua
J, sion. The Appeal, whose voice has eve
n been, and will ever be, raised in behalf Q
V the best interests Of the people, implores it
N readers, at least, to put away the belt j
a which are concealed the knife and pisto
,. put away these aids to murder, and neve
n- take them up for use again But the othe
IF night, during discussion in the house {
ID parliament on the passage of a bill toucbin
D. the prohibition Of prize-fghting, on oppos
as tion speaker asked: "Shall we introduc
Of the revolver from the United States ?" S
ID we have already won the bad eminence I
using the revolver in those cases wherei
NJ the Englishman uses his fists. This rep
q. tation has done us OF the Southern Stat
N particularly, more detriment than almost Q
to other combined. 1t has kept capital ava
BY it is keeping capital and immigration fro
10 our untitled fields, from our rich Mines fro
o. our inviting cities and towns. We a
ci- annually paying millions Of dollars in 10
as of trade and general development Of our !
i'm sources, for the luxury Of shooting the ir
IL, man who doubts our veracity or wounds o
er- vanity. Will sensible men consider the
zi- facts2 The Appeal is to the core Soui
ne ern journal it loves the sunny homes whe
ms it is daily and welcome visitor, frie
al and counsellor ; it has stood by the Sout
im and will stand by her through evil al
through good report and the Southe
people should heed its counsel touching th
great evil, which, like the pestilenc
. "wasteth in darkness and walketh at moo
day." Let the young men especially he
sat our friendly advice in this behalf, aud
sri- other years they will thank us for wor
lis, itly spoken, ard advice earnestly tender
rri- in their ture interests. The pistol must