The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1874-07-02
CRIME STILL 1SAmPANT-THE DUTY
OF THE PRESS.

The prevalence of crime has become
leading topic of conversation. Men look at
each other and PROFOUND the question: ''Did
you ever hear of so many murders-so much
lynching-su an awful state of affairs :
What will become of us9 What will the
people of the other States say9 Is there no
way to put stop to it," Such questions
are asked, and show with what feelings and
dismay the citizens receive accounts OF the
numberless crimes which are reported by the
press from day to day. And it re.
veals startling fact, which should arouse
the people of the whole State to individual
and organized effort to put stop to, VIZ,
the strong hold which lawlessness has upon
the hearts of many of the people. 1t has
its origin in a disposition to do away with
all laws; to dispense with courts and Off
GERS of the law; to take the control of civil
and criminal jurisprudence into their own
hands; to form combinations and bands for
the purpose of controlling society, and en-
tering into such arrangements as will dis
pense with jails and penitentiaries. 1t is
the legitimate result of opposition to calm
and thorough investigation of causes, and
the application of good rules for the pro-
lection of the weak against the strong, the
gentle against the relentless. 1t is the out
cropping of anarchy, the first steps in the
road to barbarism and universal ruin.
It is such an alarming state of affairs that
there should be called public meetings for
the purpose of comparing notes and ascer-
tanning how many in each community are
willing to band together for upholding the
majesty of the law and the suppression of
crime. The people cannot afford to sit
down and do nothing at all to arrest the
dark wave which threatens to sweep over
the whole State and utterly destroy her
prosperity and glory. Lawlessness. if not
checked, viii take a broad field and COM
NIT such barbarities as viii throw the ad-
vancement of the State back, in population,
wealth and power, at least fifty years. 1t
win not only do this, butt win consume the
wealth and destroy the fame which Texas
has already acquired.
The sooner it is put down the better. If
delayed, taxation must increase, in order
that officers may be sent out armed with
such powers and supported by such force as
VIII enable them to cope with the desperate
and reckless men who now fill the land
with blood, lamentations and sorrow. The
police force under the late administration
was Justly condemned, because twas as
serted, and truthfully, that the civil officers
could arrest all the criminals and bring
them to justice. But do they do itl Do
the citizens in each community do their
dutyg Do they trOwn down the organiza-
ton Of men whose only purpose is 70 take
the law into their own hands. and lynch men
without triall Do they fully comprehend
the fact that Texas IS an organized State,
with. an executive and judiciaryi That
there arc men appointed and elected 10 ar
rest criminals and empannel jurics for the
trial Of oifenscs against the law. Il would
really appear that they are ignorant Of the
machiacrJ Of government or knew that
there vas any government At ALI Now We
do know that Texas has good citizens. law
abiding ciiilsns; bus why do they iail %
DO their. .dutIl DO fheY not know that The
pur5e1cr. ro1trF. ihisi nnd ether criminals