New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-08-31
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
ToOMuCH ARMING.

TO the Edft0F OF rae Trt0uRs.
SIR: Two facts in modern progress arrest
attention and ultimate crisis The first relates
To the general arming OF Transatlantic and Transpa-
cc Stairs This is the outgrOwth OF European strife
for nominal balance Of power, and Of Asatc hunger
the plenty which they suppose the European States
moDOpoze. The second fact is the general armlng OF
the citizens Of civilized States. The serious fact
TO American, is the absurd multiplication OF arms
for private The last developed great factories
for their production Pistols for boys form part OF the
stock of hardware and tOy-shops Men will put the
Of two Of -four into revolver and beg for
bread with twenty-dOllar pistol in the pocket Ii IS
barbarous Savages carry arms, just as wild
beasts show teeth, ready for fight and blood the
daily press for April May and June, this A. d. 1878, dis
closed offences against person and life In excess OF the
whole number of white killed by Indians from the
opening of the Powder River Country in 1866, until
July L. 1873 The American people howl for the exter
minaton OF the Indian who contends for his final hunt
ing grounds but pass over, an everyday incident
equally atrOciOus murders at home.
What is to be the outcome from this vile and eowardy
practice Of carrying concealed weapons in violation OF
law and decent self-respectf Arms will be made, OF
course and needed, just army the police or
sher posse needed force in the assurance
Of peace The sword the type Of legitimate force ju
as the surgeons knife be applied in the last resort
But nations habtually armed to the teeth are slowly
bleeding TO death. When the sword cuts its swath
there is place for the reapes sickle but Industry Is
dril idleness violence The universal handling
OF deadly weapons cheapens life and every Illegal
demonstration, every MOB and awdefying outbreak has
IFS sole backing IN the assurance tnaJ arms are ADULT
dant, accessible and legitimate personal treasures
SXy-Gve millions OF dollars have been expended In IRE
arms, which only lnclte passion ana provoke WOIehce
The remedy Is in the enforcement OF law and the sure
punishment OF erme that honest citizens have no
need to bear arms but may depend upon goOI DehaV or
the best against assault A pistol pocket OF
pstClbet has tile usual Accomplishments or braR aud
buster and so soon as the authorities the law
to concealed weapons, the current record Of crime VIII
have some reasonable limit No army, police will be
ADEQUATE law unless the people first make 10
their business Institutions that the people
obey law from choice and the machinery Of law Is
adapted only 10 the exceptional cases but in proper
ton as men take law into their hands, will society
be driven 10 enlarge its executive force and drt toward
the condition Of COnmen tai States The times full
exhibitions OF fraud, perjury and extravaganza aud
those exhibitions of the dangerous tendency
with the use OF the knife and revolver Honest heads
and honest hearts will and society cannot
prosper while the law which fOrbds their possession
remains a dead letter.
Charlottesville, Ind, Aug. 90, 1873