The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1876-02-10
DEADLY FIGHTS IN PUBLIC PLACES.

The reckless use Of firearms in persona
reacontres, an example of which occurred on
Tuesday night at the Opera House, can not be
suffered to pass without our unqualified con-
domination. We are not willing to permit
the report of an indiscriminate firing into
pacific crowd by two or more belligerents 70
go abroad where our people are not under
stood as one of those occurrences which pass
without severe apprehension. Many tragedies
grow out of the custom Of carrying deadly
weapons, but for the most part men OF mature
age who are habitually armed have enough
consideration and humanity to avoid col
lisions where bystanders may be killed
or injured. drawn pistol in the
hands Of a man Infatuated by passion or
crazed with drink is an assault upon every one
within the range Of his shot. he draws with
the purpose Of committing felonious act,
and if bystander is killed by it unintention-
ally it is a murder in the eyes of the law.
Quarrels of all kinds can be deferred by sane
and sober men to time and place where the
wrangling will insult no ladies, and where the
fighting will endanger no lives but those
mutually and voluntarily put in jeopardy.
1t needs must be that quarrels occur, and
that deadly antagonisms are aroused, but it is
the habit of discreet and thinking men to
limit them in their effects to themselves and
their immediate enemies.
For two things our people are blameable-
fho toll cf fho ofio &c
wearing deadly weapons concealed about the
person; the other, the habitually low estimate
placed upon human life. When rencontre
between two armed men occurs, and one of
them is MORALLY wounded, hundred will
comment upon the circumstances and ap-
plaud the courage Of one or the other, or of
both, where one will speak of the tragic
homicide as crime These criminal coils.
ions are encouraged by the absence of pun
they are still further encouraged by
the absence Of a severely censorious public |
opinion. Where life is undervalued, life will |
be unsafe; where the law is not recognized |
and revered as the supreme arbiter between
man and man, the law will fail as a protector
Of property or life 1t is useless to shut our
eyes to the prevalent faults of our people. |
They lack the law-abiding spirit which, in
other lands, is the boast Of enlightened in
habitants. They respect the rights Of prop
srty as much as any other people, and are as
'ree from the vice of detraction. But when it
comes to personal quarrels, impulsive ma.
ures defy restraint and bloody collisions
,nsue.
We need change of popular sentiment
uch as will not permit homicides to pass
Without trial or even arraignment, and such
IS will not permit the law and penalties for
'arr5ing concealed deadly weapons to remain
mere dead letter on our statute books. If
ye expect to become thoroughly civilized
people we must learn to venera.e the law and
ry to make it an adequate protection against
he vicious, the inebrlate, the reckless, the
'iolent and the INSCRIPTIONS. If the moral
ense Of the masses Of our citizens could be
rought to bear through the machinery of the
Nv upon men of evil minds and evil habits,
re should seldom be shocked with reports OF
hese deadly collisions of armed men.
In point Of mere policy our business men
re well aware that these occurrences are
cry damaging to the trade of the city. Re-
orts of them are very much exaggerated
broad, SO that there are multitudes who be-
eve that homicidal rencontres are of daily ,
on our thronged promensdes. We
lust remove this reproach by seriously and /
arnestly restoring the law to its due place in 9
ublic esteem and confidence, and by cult I
ating q wholesome state of public opinion. !