The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1878-12-05
VIM Il King
VOL. VIII.
THE MAYORS EFFORTS TO SUP
PRESS ChIlEE.

THE MAYORS EFFORTS TO SUP
PRESS ChJITE.
The ordinance enacted by the board
Of aldermen designed to prevent ;tt
usc of firearms of all descriptions u
the city viii serve a good purpose.
Not long ago doves. birds of paradise,
| sparTows and mocking birds freoucnted
the streets. Their nests were smo7g
the roses, fig and romegranale trees.
But wretchedlY reared. and trained
youths of the place used ''nigger shoot
ers" and guns and threw stones AID
robbed nests till birds are no longer
domesticsted. Doves have fed ana
mocking birds are slieuced, or those
we have are spiritless, Gagged and lustcr-
less. Insects In houses and gardens
are multiplied, and all that rude, igno-
rant boys might crafty native cruelty
by destroying these useful, beautiful
birds. But the boy tina. de-
lights in robbing birds nests
or in killing them grows to a manhood
OF vice as well as of physical proper
uons, and therefore do we find these
same idle. brutal boys of to-day the
men killers of tomorrow. The mig
ger killer" of boyhood is the Colts re-
peater of manhood, and the rObber of
birds nests becomes the burglar aud
highwaymsn. Since parents will not
provide against these evils, our city
fathers have undertaken the task, and
the use of pistol or gun in the city's
con6nCs is made heinous offence.
Lessons in morals are inculcated by
this municipal code, and the mayor, in
causing this legislation, illustrated his
good sense and taste and a proper
apprehension of the effects of early
training and habits. But beyond this
has his honor gone in holding Il special
meeting of the city's law-givers in
order to prevent murder. Crime is
rampant everywhere. Men take human
life as rapidly as savage, reckless boys
destroy that of harmless, helpless birds.
Men fight like enraged dogs and so
common are bloody deeds that even
good men deem it their duty to carry
concealed weapons. None or all men |
should 90 armed. Therefore the city |
ordinance enacted IN accordance with |
the mayors recommendation, which |
provides that fines and forfeitures COL |
lected from persons who make arsenals |
OF themselves shall be paid to the !
''informer." Shrewd, sharp-eyed boys |
have in this local law an excellent or
portunity TO turn an honest penny.
Let them watch the protrudiny coat |
tails Of the fast young men that 1y
about the postollice and up and down |
the Avenue. 1t is beautiful AMI easy
process. When a pistol handle pre-
jects from the hip il Is only necessary
to inform the nearest policeman. He
is compelled to make the arrest, and
however impecunious the miserable
wretch who bears the implement of
murder and assassination, be must pay
the fine or go to jail. The $l2.50 goes
into the pocket of the boy who
gave the information TO the pc
Iiceman and the proof to the may
or. Instead of destroying useful
and beautiful birds, and thus
the attractiveness of our homes and
gardens, let the rascally boys of Austin
be taught the art of suppressing crime
aud of catching those birds of prey"
that rob Austin of its good name and
mako "Texas" by-word and hiss
among the nations. The meanest
tramp or dead beat that dies hourly
of internal thirst for maddening whis-
ky can make Sl2 80 any hour in the
day. He need only to watch the hip
o-clitical pocket and face of him
who reels half drunken along the street
laden with barbarous implements of
death. But the speculation of the
unkempt street Arab and OF the loafer
is the duty of each good citizen. There
are two forces that make up the
murderer's. courage; the one whisky,
the other the hidden battery on the |
hip. We sought, year or more ago,
to rob the first OF Its deadly power,
and now it becomes the duty of each |
honest citizen to see that the new ordi- |
nance, which paralyzes the pistol as
we proposed to eviscerate the vigor of |
whisky, is rgidly executed. Let no
man escape. Whoever violates the /
State code prohibitory of the towards
practice of hearing concealed imple-
ments Of death deserves to be fined,
and the informer, who receives the
fine or gives it to some public charity,
deserves the gratitude of the people.
1t follows from all this that youths
arc trained to murder from childhood
to age when trained to destroy the
most beautiful and helpless of living
things. When they become men the
habit of destructiveness is developed
in the habit of wearing arms. Thence
.he horrible, CHASTITY crimes constant
y perpetrated in the capital and other
cities of Texas. A remedy is discov-
cred in this recent enactment of the
city legislature, and every honest good
citizen should contribute his influence
Ind Efforts to assure the rigid execu-
ion of the excellent law.
WHAT The POLITICIANS AND
MRS nWH a NsrG VEnHy M AURnHRs