The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1876-06-29
SATURDAY NIGHB,s BEEN OF
BLOOD.

This bloody work must end. The assas-
slnati)n of Barton, Saturday night, before
the very face OF the Legislature, approves
code as ruthless as the purpose of him who
walks the streets day aud night with weap-
ons concealed upon his person that the first
who questions his courage or worth may be
put to death. he who bears murderous
weapons about his person, il the laws were
worthy the name and courts and juries and
sheriffs executed them, Is already felon.
He Is q murderer in his heart or q
coward fearing murderer. But this is only
true where the laws are enforced and
individuals protected. When those
addicted to lowest haunts Of vice
fall victims to violence, the effect at home
is tnhing; but when the telegraph tells it
this morning, at every breakfast table in
America, that there has been another muir
der perpetrated even at the capital of
Texas, the State suffers in the eyes Of de-
cent, progre ssive civilization, and we are
deemed worthy descendants OF those terri
BILE fellows who, in the olden time, left
older States "between two days" to die
booted and spurred upon the border.
Among ignorant, imbruted, half-civilized
people, this bloody work may be even toll
cradle. "The lie" among these justiies
instant murder, but, among intelligent citi-
Eens, recognizing obligations to society, and
to decency and good government, and con-
Tossing the value Of the fair fame of Texas,
no empty word approves the murderer's
crime and no wrong done an individual by
Islander however cruel, can palliate the
wrong done society, law and order by venge-
full murder. Men holding Office will surely
give the people proper illustrations IN their
personal conduct and relations to one
another, of proper modes of life and action.
The bravest placehOlder, lifted conspicu.
ously above his fellows, is he who dares to
do right before God and man. In ordinary
times duels and personal collisions are con-
doned; but now he alone will be justified
in taking life who resists arobbcr or declared
murderer and desperado. There are reasons
lOE bhcsc suBB SStlohS III pOesioiC oOSuiiOhOOs
during protracted weary debates in the
Capitol, and in sudden guarrels, even among
gentlemen and among those who tamper
with whisky, that reason and law may
restrain violent resentment of real or fan
cied wrongs. 1t may be proper to say that
until the laws are reformed and made OPP
erative and crime certainly and fiercely
punished, the concealed weapons code is
worse than failure. Good and upright
and honest citizens obey and villains evade
and defy, and thus the best are at the
mercy Of the worst class, and In order that
sudden quarrels may not result, because of
concealed weapons in sudden murder,
reform must cure the necessity for
self defense. Assassins must be hanged
and the class that habitually robs and
murders and swills mean whisky must
be taught by terrible lessons administered
by the hangman and whipping post and
branding iron, that the right to live is uni
versal, and the right to take Ire forever
and under all circumstances, annulled in
Texas. The distinction between heightened
murder and brutal, vulgar assassination,
like that done in this city Saturday night
can no longer be drawn by the courts Of
Texas, and bloodshed and crime, whereve
and by whomsoever perpetrated, and what
ever the pretext of "honor" CD or ven
sse.eAnce, must be made disgraceful.