The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1880-01-30
4 shange Of r"s,,e sentiment need.

out u GOT i-piaccdi
What is the remedy Il Is this
the cultivation of a better public SEN
timent, which will teach men that
something more than their mere in.
dividual right or honor Is involved
when a personal issue arises aud that
the peace Of the community and the
Law Of the land are paramount ~ any
mere personal issue. The fact Is, we
are encouraging aud keeping alive a
code Of individuality which belongs to
a past era. Il sprung from the exc.
goncies OF a frontier life, when each
ones rifle or a strong arm was the
best defense for his life or property.
It was well adapted to the conditions
Of that epoch, but the reason Of its
use no longer existing, At should be
abandoned. We have in is stead Il
thoroughly organized and expensive
system Of laws. The community
principle has taken the place Of the
hunter Of the frontier phase Of life
Our municipal. county and State or
CARNATIONS is complete. Ifa theft is
committed, il Is an oflense against the
community at large instead Of the in
dividual, and is punished as such.
Nowhere are the rights Of property
better preserved or infractions against
them more certainly punished than in
Kentucky. No one deems 1t dishon.
orable TO sue out a warrant against
any person who is reasonably believed
70 be guilty Of violating the law by
stealing horse or other property.
The party himself may Object. but a
healthy public sentiment susfains and
encourages the prosecution Of such
crimes. The right Of things is recog.
nized and amply protected, but the
rights Of persons infinitely the high
er and more sacred of the two--are
but too loosely guarded.
II A takes BIS horse il Is easy to
raise a posse Of fifty or a hundred men
in any community To pursue the thief
aud bring him 10 punishment under
the forms Of law. But IL A takes BIS
life, unless il Is done under circum-
stances Of indefensible atrocity, he
will find scores of defenders of the
deed on the ground. when sifted to
the bottom that A had been insulted,
or in some way provoked, aud had the
right to take life for other reasons than
absolute selfdeiense. We would not
abridge the well meaning seuse Of per
sonal self-respect which would protect
itself against wanton insult; no law
does that, but no human law vests in
any one the right To take life save in
self defense. A loose public sentiment
recognizes score Of oflense which
Justify an appeal to this desperate
remedy. "He called me liar and ]
killed him, is not uncommonly heard
as justification for homicide, and q
mistaken public sentiment says,
SERVED him right" But the Law
does not recognize this as a sufficient
reason, and if society and public sen
timent would take the law at the stan
dard and condemn the pretext. ",
should soon have a reform, both as t.
crime and its provocation. The mai
who would wantonly insult another
would soon, as he ought, cease to b.
regarded as a gentleman. IL is no
the law which is at fault. Our stat
uies are ample theoretically; our law
makers aud those who administer th,
laws are sound. They have adopte,
the theory of the highest forms 0
civilization, and whenever they speal
BY the book they are all right. Bu
the trouble is, that ia their walks a
individual members Of the communi
ty they do not illustrate by their act
their belief in their technical deiin
tons Of law. Legislators with pistol
at their belts enact laws against cal
rying concealed weapons. Judge
charge juries with eloquent maledi'
tons against violations Of law, fo
which they are personally liable, Will
communities tolerate in open day o
lenses which neither human or divin
law sanctions. IL is public sentimen
after all which enforces law. judge
aud juries are but men rejecting ii
feelings of those with whom the
have their daily associations. WheI
the fountain is corrupt so also will |
the stream, aud where public sent
ment is lax in respect to enforcemer
Of law, so also will be the courts.
We affirm that in the matter Of pc
s0nal difficulties the carrying Of col
eealed weapons, and their use in Il
settlement Of quarrels in the matt
of provocalion as ground for indivi
ual vengeance, and in the appeal
the law as a preventive Of sue
deeds, public sentiment is rotten 10 d
, core. Ii needs regeneration aud e
, lightenment, aud we appeal TO Il
: press as well as to the pul pit 10 try
! remedy she evil. Let us elevate pu
D lie sentiment TO the standard Of d
law which denies 10 any one d
wanton taking OF life equally with d
taking Of property, aud we shall thu
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