New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-09-16
THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR CRIME.

Inc people OF some OF the country par
ishes having practically abolished their
courts of justice. because Republican
officers were chosen to administer the law
are having serious time Of it with their
thieves, murderers, gamblers, drunkards
and desperadoes. Communities that not
long ago applauded their attorneys, such
as they are. for having put on their
hats, snatched up their briefs and
swept out of court because Train
or an Orsborn had been chosen to preside,
are now out on the highway, guns in
hand, to do little duty in the service of
Judge Lynch. St. Landry re-echoed back
the patriotic laugh of approval, and then
loaded up to chase the Guillorys into Cata-
houla. Franklin sent its quota of men to
join Sheriff Nashs" posse comitatus in
another parish, and is now concerned to
find its district judge and district attor-
ney missing, and four we'll known DIES.
peradoes, who have been very much pet
ted since the dark day at Colfax, missing
Also So Franklin has buckled on its
armor, purchased four ropes and gone
out on man hunt VerniHon chimed
in at the same time the hilari9t was gen.
eral, Al d now comes down with the hui
initiating confession that it has been nee
essary to hang twelve persons who were
suspected of being cattle thieves, because
they could do nothing else with them.
Having destroyed the courts of justice, or
permitted their rowdies to do SO, these
communities are all in mortal fear of
being sent after their, legal tribunals.
Vigilance committees and lynching are
symptoms Of very bad state Of society.
People never resort to such extreme meas
ures so long as there is reasonable GER
tainty that justice may be had in the reg
nlar way. And our neighbors at dis
lance will be apt to judge US harshly for
the recent disorders that have happened
in the unquiet regions. Had one-half the
exertion been put forth to sustain the
courts Of justice as there were to abolish
them, and then to attempt to perform
their functions with the hue ana cry, tic
twelve unfortunate cattle thieves recoauv
hanged at Abbeville might have been do
ing the State service at Baton Rouge; the
poor Guillorys and their accomplices
might have been restrained in their wild
and destructive career before reformation
became impossible, and Judge Crawford
and District Attorney Harris would have
been spared for years of useful service.
The slaughtered victims of Colfax court
house wouldbe welding the peaceful hoe,
and the good name of the State remain |
by acts which bring shame to
the cheek of every good citizen. a-
1t is no excuse to say that these troubles
in political disputes. A wrong
is none the less so if perpetrated in the
interests of party, and infects the COM
nunity with its baleful effects quite as rap
idly as one committed for private reasons.
As prevention is better than cure, it is the
object of all criminal laws, and it is the
luty of every community, not only to pro-
ect itself from outrage, but such of it's
members as showa proneness to go astray,
rom themselves. We believe the out
aged citizens of Franklin, Abbeville and
'ther disturbed sections were fully justi-
led in putting prompt check upon the
pests that afflicted them, but hope they
viii take care for the future that the law
shall do this kind of work for them. /