The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1874-05-29
s. G.
Friday Morning. May 20. 1874.
A suggestive Reminisoe nco.

tory that all the avenues OF justice be
come closed and society helpless
victim, while it respects form in the
hands OF it's dangerous classes. Ex'
traordinary rs such conjunotures are.
they compel resort to extraordinary
measures to, remove the evils whiob
attend them. Administrative instance
ot.this, occurred within our own recol.
!, Lotion. II 1885, corruption in san
Francisco reached its height. The
roughs ruled theroast. The gamblers
we're IN nltheir glory. The prize-fight.
ers WOES The !ssorite pets. The thieves
j and pick-pookets piled their vocation
without fear. The oourtesans held
high carnival. The police were pimps
OF the criminals. The public prose.
cntors were in league with those they
prosecuted. The judges made nook
cry OF Justice. The officers of the law
were tools OF the breakers OF the law.
and disorder reigued supreme. This
was the condition OF city. The evil
did not pervade the whole State.
y The press was dumb. Tho only
editor who had dared to do his duty
was murdered in his own office, and
the gambler who murdered him went
"unwhipt of justice" All good inau-
enoes seemed to be dead; all power Of
correction of evil lost. Society was
ahe prey OF thieves, murderers aud
every sort OF 'picked villains. They
we're strongly organized. But their
depredations did not cover the whole
rarea of the State. .
At last the people 0! property and
standing became alarmed. Their lives
we're in peril. Their property was in.
secure. Social order-everything they
most priced was in danger. Forbear-
ance had been exercised to the utmost
and ceased to be any longer q virtue.
They took the remedy in their own
hands. Taay organized Systematically
for the work they had meant to do.
They formed clubs in every ward.
Each club sent a delegate to q central
club, which perfected the plan of ope-
rations. II chose Judges, prosecuting
attorneys and police sworn to execute
justice.
One bright Sunday morning the
clubs met at their usual places. aud,
having been duly armed, proceeded.
at an appointed hour, to general head.
quarters, and thence marched, in solid
column, through the main streets of
the oity.
The whole movement had been con.
Quoted with such perfect secrecy, that
those outside of it had no apprehen-
sion Of its meaning. While this army
OF the people was marching through
the city, the leading criminals were
being arrested. By the time it re-
turned to headquarters. everything was
ready for business. A huge platform
was etscted. The peoples oourt was
lfptgsnized. The prisonets we're put on
their trial. Some, who were proved
guilty, were convicted and executed.
"before all Israe and the sum- -
Others, whose guilt was not clearly
proven. were banished-amongst them
a Judge of one of the courts. Others
were remanded for further hearing
amongst them Yankee Sullivan, the
notorious prize-6ghter, who commit.
ted suicide the sams night.
The work was done quickly and
boldly. and done we'll. If any enc OBJ
,jected that it hnd been done without
formal authority of law, he was com-
PEELED to admit that it had been done
justly. 1t had all the excuse OF neces.
sity; it had oil the provooation of out
rage. The rule Of the roughs WAS
broken, and life aud property and So
clal order became as safe in San Frau
CISCO US on the Atlantic coast-thanks
to the "Vigilance CommiAee.."
Encou, aGIng.
1t is gratifying to learn that the i'm
mi Ipr 10