Feliciana sentinel. [volume] (St. Francisville, La.) 1877-1892, 1877-10-27
rCOmmunicated.1
BAYvlEw, Oct, 26th 1877


To the Editor Of the FELlclANA SENTINEL.
It is years since have looked into
law hook, and in fact since We have been
ground under the heel of Carpet-bagism,
I have taken 90 little interest In our So
called legislators-that b cannot answer
Is o very simple questions, as to certain
statutes of Louisiana and Mississippi. I
therefore; prefer applying to you, for In
formation (an editor il always presumed
to be living Encyclopedia) instead Of
searching my dusty volumes, in quest of
reply. There. was q law passed in Missis-
sippi few years ago, providing for the
impeachment, or removal of any official,
who should be proved to have been intox-
icated, while in the discharge Of his du-
ties. Can you republish its provisions,
and also ascertain whether such a law ex-
lists in Lonisiana-and if not, recommend
the passage of similar enactment, to the
attention of our Legislature-I did not
intend writing temperance 1ecture-so
shall not dwell on the disgusting picture,
of one bearing the ermine, trailing it in
the mire of drunken revel, or the fear
full consequence to society-the annihila-
ton of law and order-which might ensue;
when those who are the guardians of both,
partake of orgies that sink them below
the beasts of the field. Apropos of this
subject, and in apology, for the plain
terms used above-has it ever occurred to
you, how much the fashionable style of
Disgusting intoxicatiOn, under tho slang
terms Of ''tight," "brick in the hat;| &c.
tends to lessen the horror the vice should
inspire. Akin to this evil custom, is that
of laughing at or finding amusemeut in
those pitiable antics which make fiends
rejoice, and Angels almost weep.
Many of your le:hlers are, no doubt ia
miliar with the exquisite scene. in The
House of Yorke, where Mr.. Rowan be-
seeches Edith never to laugh at a
drunkard. Twenty-four hours later, he
filled Gas he had imprecateJ on himself)
q drunkard's unblessed grave.
Ale leaned back against the house,
with his hands in his pockets, and stared
at the clay bank before him. Edith look
cd at him, but said nothing. Presently
he turned * suddenly that she started.
GIRL" he said, never do you ridicule a
man who has been drinking, no matter
what he does, you may hate him, or be
afraid of him, but never laugh at him
You might ss we'll look down into hell
and langh! Do you know what it is to
I've in the power of rumi 1t is to have
serpents twining round you, and binding
you hand and foot I've gone through,
the streets up there with devils on my
back, pushing me down wild beasts tear
ing my vitals; reptiles crawling round
me the earth rising mp and quaking I'M
der my feet, and a horror in my soul that
no words can describe, and the men and
women and children have laughed at me.
Perhaps they were such shallow fools that
they didn't know; but tell yon, and you
know row. Don't You ever dare to laugh
at a drunkard! 81 never will" Edith
cried out, in an agony of terror and pity.
% you poor man! didn't know it was
so awful. O you poor man."
Just after writing the above lines. my
eyes fell on a short article in the Balti-
more American, which so admirably illus
trates the subject, that I append it rer-
batin..
VANCEDURG, KY, Sept, 30th 1877.
Our Criminal Court was opened by
Judge Sands in a creditable style, as re-
ported through your paper, but no bust
ness was transacted. because Judge Sands
failed to sustain his judicial and personal
dignity. There was much bad feeling
manifested at one time toward this young
and gifted Judge. until he came into the
Court and said:
"Gentlenen and Fellow Citizens-1 ap'
pear before you to say, am victim to a
vice which has disgraced me before YOU
and my country. As 1entered this Court
room, heard some one say: There goes
nrettv timber to make Criminal Judge
of., I feel that remark as steel through
nv heart, for it is just. am unworthy
Of the high honor and trust you have con-
ferred upon one so young; and l return
to YOU the office have lost, being I'M
worthy Of it. Pardon me, friends and
country-men, Tut you shall bear this no
longer. My judicial integrity and official
acts are blameless. Thank God, am no
longer Judge of Lewis County. May
Heaven keep me in my afiictionV
This eloquent and feeling appeal was
never heard here before. Prejudice was
turned to sympathy, and sympathy to
compassion for Judge Sands He has a
warm place in our hearts, and wehope he
will return to us refOrmed.9
Not being prophet, cannot, like Ma
than, point the finger of scorn-and say.
"rbon art the man )" but we all kno"
thai both in Louisiana and Mississippi