Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1879-03-22
MEMPHIS APPEAL
SAGURUsr, MARCH, -
HANG THE HUKDEKERs.

AA4NU n n II
The murder of Colonel Aston, at Atlanta
the muroer Of the well known actor, Mr.
Porter, at Marshall, Texas, the murder Of
Mr.. Andrews and Mr.. Fitzgerald, at Vicks
burg, Mississippi, and the murder of Mr.
HUI, OF tins county, by Goy Bond,
have attracted the general attention of the
country to a phase OF crime which must be
punished swiftly and surely if the south would
keep pace with the advancing civilization Oi
the age. Murder belongs to barbarism. 1t
$ the recourse Of brutal natures-untamed,
uncivilized natures that have not been taught
to impose upon themselves those restraints
that are the recognized evidences of civiliza-
ton. 1t is the recourse Of those who are a
law unto themselves, who regard themselves
superior to all law, human or divine, aud
who 90 armed, prepared, often boastfully
prepared to take life on any pref xt that, t.
themselves, may be a provocation that will
Justify It. They are murderers at heart In
the south much Of the prevalent crime is of
this capital character, and it is largely due to
a defective public opinion, which treats
Lightly Of the loss of human life
and invests with too much importance the
blcpuLIo VI lutlFluGdlS anu llSH QuAFEGlS.
Then there Is the cowardly habit of carrying
concealed weapons, which brings in It's train
offensive speech aud manner, a staggering
recklessness, bold, defiant, impudent, and
often brutal aggressiveness on the part OF
young men who, permitted by parents and
guardians to 90 unchecked, suddenly find
themselves classed among the criminals of
the country, hunted by sheriffs, marked as
Cain was, fleeing they know not whilher, and
leaving behind them honest, good, G 3D. fear
ing reatives-pGrents, sisters and brothers,
weeping in shame fer their misdeeds. The
remedy for this is only to be found in the
rigid and prompt enforcement of the law. If
the murder ers are not punished, their ranks
will De recruited. Those who carry pistols
or knives will be encouraged to kill and slay
as they choose, and as likely as not they will
select for their victims such men as Aston or
the otner an acUJr -pirrulJn FeelJia ,ynsa
ments elevated hun to the first
rank among his fellows. If the
laws are not enforced and murderers
are not hanged as they deserve, we shall
bave substituted for the statutes the threats
of the rufian, who prefers to Idle in his
boots" decency will fall below par, and Ii.
cense will be at a premium. Only few
days ago, In an adjoining county in Missis-
sppi, three good citizens were killed IN a
melee, and fourth was so badly wounded
that his life is despaired Of The commu-
nifty IN which they lived mourn the loss of |
these citizens, whose usefulness was so IN |
timely cut short, BIT il has taken no step to |
Il ~
rOus as TO result in such wholesale slaughter. |
The people Of Washington county, Arkan-
sas, are also just now greatly excited over
the shooting Of a man named Reed, who as
saulted the j iiier al Fayetteville and was
shot through the heart by the sheriff The
ruffians. Of whom Reed was the chief
threaten the whole country with the knife
and the torch, and the governor of the State
has been appealed 10 for protection. All |
this is the result of carrying con
cealed weapons, of tine bad habit
of personal denunciation on the least
provocation, Of the bad eminence which
murderous desper4does like Reed epjoy and
of the cowardiy public opinion which fears to
deuounce as 1t deserves the conduct, winch.
IN Comanche or an Apache, calls out its ex-
ecratIon and ireest Remuneration. The hang
man has been abroad too long. He must
come home and stay a while. Ifhe does not
we may reasonably expect a repetition Of the
lynch-law execution which, a few days ago
startled the quiet people Of Cincinnati and
Newport out vi their dream Of security. Tie
laws must be enforced. They are the bonds
which bIud society; they are the public |
pledge Of peace. They must be upheld.