The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-11-03
THE PISTOL NORTH.

The papers North publish every dny the
most thrilling accounts OF ARRAYS In which
pistols arc freely used by NIL parties CON
eerned and which result not unfreauently In
murders.
1t would really appear that almost NIL the
men. and very many women Ia that section.
90 about with pistols conveniently seereted
| about them ready for use on tho slightest
provocatlon. Lova-lorn SWANS and mnIdens
| there have taken to perforatlng their learts
| with pistol bullets whenever any trouble
| arises to check tho full flow Of their affec-
| tions and occasionally ladies whose hearts
have been triled with. instead Of pursulng
tho time-honorod and common sense plan
| Ut nh action for damages, resort to the plsto
and blow their lovers where there arc no
sweethoarts. md then, with n we'll directed
shot. follow them across the river. Sometimes
tho aim Ia defective and tho lover. ns In the
case OF Hickey. recovors and takes part In
tho obsequles of the t,il nvenger, which Is
adding insult % injury Ever. whore In tho
North We find the pistol coming into play.
md oven tho children there arc becoming
experts In tho use of that cheerful, handy and
certainly worry effective little weapon.
Now we are plsnsed to know that for nil
this untimely taking-oir the South cannot
possibly DO hold Responsible; for these kill
ings and outragea, Mt least, even Mr.. Sherman
and Mr. Blaine must hold us batneless.
VIZ desire now, speaking for the Southern
people who abhor the useless shedding Of
human blood and who deplore the loose mo-
rallty that renders such n state OF affairs pos
al IN tNrD tIr NJ f,
ask that tho laws upon the statute books OF
tho Northern States against carrying con
cealed weapons be enforced. In order TINT this
Wholesale murder may be stopped. Our
Southern people take great pleasure In visit
Ing the North In summer but Ii thoy are to
go among Il people who arc armed to tho
teeth and ready To perfornto Thorn for any
fancled affront. tho probability Is they will
stay at home. where their lives nre In no
danger from bullets.
The trouble Ia that the pistols are I'LL nude
North, and their manufacture hsls $50 UnOI-
mously Increased. and they nrs now sold SO
chsnply. that 1t u no wonder everybody has
ono or more. Hence II Is not surprising that.
owning Weapons md being permitted to wear
them hnbtually, tho Northern people, like
u
similar conditions Or affairs exists, have taken
to using them with deplorabln results. Tho
Philadelphia Lcigcr cnlls attention to tho
great increase In late years Of the uso OF the
pistol among the people Of tho North, and
while lamenting II. calls upon the State md
Federal government to Tux pistols rs articles
Of luxury. This ID an excellent Idea, aud ono
which 1t would be we'll TO adopt. for pistols
arc unquestionaby luxuries. The LedDcr
very truly observes:
While the whisky pays four tolls to the nation
and state sand none too many@flrat by stump
mt the dlsiiltery. again to tho government for
denler and once mora to tho State for local
tavern llcense. over ind nhove any ahop tax.
tho pistol phys no moro than ~ chhrRsnbia upon
the lonf OF bread. If tobacco ind malt liquors.
must MISC 70 through these accumulated
chnrges. M matters OF luxury md not Of NO l.
aity and the peaceful, necessary mulch box
bears the cont stump Of burden md tho gun
should the pistol IA u domestic article Of undo
nfahle luxury 60 free of charge to the common
wealth. Its loo great Ghenpuaas ind freedom |
certainly make grhnt expense and trouble for
tho commonwealth TO mect.
The laws against carrying concealed weap
ons, while aneIIoratlng the evil to some OK
tent. where they are vigorously enforced are
yet inadequate TO Its correction, and 1t
would doubtless, tend greatly to lessen the
Of tho use OF weapons IL IL heavy
tax should be laid upon them.