Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-07-11
THE PISTOL.

exchange, is reutcliOH Oi tiiO Ni'hi
cation of the age, but to find them in
possession OF small boys and even girls
in some instances, is public scandal
These utterances were prompted by
the catalogue OF accidents reported IN
the city of Philadelphia on the Fourth
of July. The captures made in the pub
lie park on that day is thus referred to;
"The assortments of pistols just cap
tured in the park from boys shows
there is no difficulty whatever IN the
way of children getting a large supply
of them, il they have pOcket-money
enough. That the manufacturers and
vendors OF such weapons understand
right well the scandalous character OF
the trade is manifest from the fact that
only one OF the whole lot has the max
er's name upon it. All the rest are
ANONYMOUS, as if ashamed OF them
selves and the makers and vendors too.
1t is bad enough that these dangerous
weapons should become a fashionable
tov among children, but it is matter OF
small concern compared with the pre-
yai,ing custom Of concealing these weap-
ons ON the person with the latent pur-
pose, for there can be but one purpose,
of dealing death in a cowardly manner
to a human being,
Ifthere were no law: il there were no
officers of the law; and il the communi-
ty were made up OF a lawless and I'M
civilized people, there might be some
occasion for the common practice
among "young bloods" and desperate
characters going about witha weapon OF
death. But man who has no thought
when he leaves his home, OF going
where he would not like to be seen, will
have no thought OF taking firearms with
him. lie is well aware that on the pub
lie streets and in all the ave
nues Of business there is ample
protection to life and property in the
civil law. If this is not so then he Is
entitled to arm himself, and carry his
weapons of defense openly and con-
spicuously-to strap them about HIM as
the savage does in his native forest, and
the law will not "say him nay" 1t is
only against the cowardly and pusillani-
nous practice Of concealing 4 deadly
weapon upon the person that the law
interieres. The man that has necessity
for carrying a weapon is free to do so,
provided he is frank and manly enough
not TO conceal it-not to hide 1t about
him that he may take some one una
wares, or shoot him in the back.
But there is, in fact, no occasion Tor
this barblrous habit OF going about
armed with pistols ond knives. 1t is an
insult TO our civilization. Even the
custom of wearing swords, which for a
long time was cOuntenanced in Euro
pean countries, and was supposed to
give dignity and position to the posses
sor, has been irowned down by the good
sense of mankind three quarters OF a
century ago. But that was, indeed, Il
more manly and proper custom than We
have in this day, OF concealing pistol
onthe person. The man who does so as
habit is either a constitutional coward
an habitual thief, or Il consummatc vii
lain. The better class OF community
will so rate him. He, therefore, has but
little respect Tor public opinion, and
should be reached by a penal statute
severe enough to deter him.
CrvL service reform is progressing
with vengeance, as will be seen by the
York paper:
Agents OF the Republican campaign
committee are eXacting unusually large
contributions from the government
clerks. Last Friday, pay day, these Eel.
| lows were on hand, and as officials and
clerks were paid off they were asked tC
| turn over a liberal amount for the Ohio
! and Maine elections. In the third audi
tors office of tine Treasury department
alone 500 was thus raised. All the
| clerks of the second controllers office
| except one, responded, and that ones
name and political record were asked
| for and noted. This sort OF thing is going
ON throughout the departments. The
bleeding process" is being applied with
extraordinary success.
JOHN Cox, brother of the murderer oI
Mrs. HUI, was a candidate for the Leg,
islaturc Of Virginia in Chesterfield coun-
ty last fall, being defeated by only fiji
teen votes. He is Superintendent oi
Schools in his county, and bears the
reputation OF being one OF the most
worthy leaders OF the colored race.
The House of Commons has voted in
favor OF the establishment Of Il Depart
ment OF Agriculture and Commerce, un-
der special Cabinet minister. This
indicates tine prevailing disposition that
something must be done TO save Eng
lish agriculture from American compe-
tition.
VARIETIES
THE ice factory at Sherman, Texas,
turns out 5000 pounds day.
WONDER the English do not establish
a Xuluogical garden in Africa.
IL the public schools of Mississippi
there are more cOlored than while chill
drcn.
Now is your time to 20 over your
boys head with a lawnmower,a file and
sand nnnpr.