Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1880-04-08
The Aurkpille Guquirer.
YORKVILLE, S. c.:
THURSDAY MORNING, APRIL s. lSe
INCREASE OF CRIME.

INCREASE OF CRIME.
Crime, more especially that species in which
violence forms the component part, is fearful
ly on the increase in this country, and so
alarming is becoming its prevalence as to en-
gage the serious attention of every thought
full person. We refer not only to the country
at large, throughout which daily record of
from one to half dozen murders is regularly
made by the daily press; but it is with pain
that we are compelled to admit the fact that
a bad state of morals exists within the Dor.
ders of our own State. Happily, this imme-
diate section is omparatively free from deeds
of violence, but there are few sections in the
State of which the same can be said; nor,
from the nature of things do we know how
long the remark will apply to our own locali-
ty. We do not propose to read a homily to
the people. Sermouizingis is not our province,
nor as the conductor of a newspaper do we
feel it incumbent upon ourselves to lecture
the people as to their moral and social obliga.
tions and duties yet, in certain circumstances,
it is the duty of the press to speak out on
questions involving the entire social fabric,
and to warn the people of impending danger.
To two causes alone may be attributed al
most every quarrel, every broil, every fight
and every murder that occurs in this broad
land. These causes are first. the immoderate
use of alcoholic drink, and secondly the car
rying of concealed weapons. Both are rep
rehensible, and both are constantly increas-
ing. No pernicious habit, open to common
observation, has so increased during the last
decade as intemperance. The youth of the
land-the hope of the next generaton-are
becoming fearfully addicted to the use of in
toxicating liquors. The time has been when
at public assemblages or during Court week
few drunken men might be seen, and the
spectacle created no remark; but now that is
the exception, and in place of men-"old to-
pers'' as they we're wont to be called-it is no
uncommon thing to see at public gatherings
a score or more Of youths, mere boys, reeling
under the influence of alcoholic poison. Nor
isl deemed manly to appear in this condition
with only bottle of whisky in one pocket;
but in the other must needs be pistol or
knife-some deadly weapon-more becoming
an uncivilized painted warrior of the forest
than man claiming intelligence and moving
in the haunts of civilization. Thus armed,
with the destroyer of reason in one pocket
and All implement of death in the other, too
many of the youths of our country are to-day
on the down. grade to ruin, to shame and de-
struction. We would ask them to pause, to
reflect, ere it become too late and we would
implore their elders to give not only the pre-
cept, but set the example in morality, tenn
perance and prudence.
The poison that dethrones reason and de-
stroys the soul, is doing more to-day than all
other evils combined to undermine the foun-
dations of society and sap the manhood Of
those who in few years will be called to as
sumo the responsibilities of State. The evil
is of such magnitude as to attract attention,
and is one which calls loudly for reform.
Against the ravages of the destroyer the
press, the pulpit and all thoughtful persons
should work without restraint, until such
sentiment shall be engendered as to demand
of the lawmakers the suppression of its man.
ufacture and sale.
With prohibitory liquor law in every
State, and the equally important enactment
against the carrying Of concealed weapons,
the morals of the country would improve in
direct ratio with the decline now so painfully
perceptible, and the commission of murder
and other deeds of violence, in the heat of
passion, would be the exception and not the
rule.