The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-11-04
PLEA FOR THE HIP POCKET.

EDITOR OF THE ARGUs.-In regard to
the reasons that can be advanced for car
rying weapons, let us suppose a case as
an illustration-not an imaginary case
either, but one which, with slight yaria-
TONS OCCURS somewhere nearly every rev.
oIution of the earth A man, peaceable in
disposition, honest in intention, quiet in
demeanor and w-abiding in every sense
of the word, is walking home from the
opera some night with his wife, daughter
or maybe his sweetheart. 1t is nearly mid
night and very cloudy and dark, and he
4 lives away in the outskirts of the town
where houses are far apart and not always
tenanted. As they pass the gloomiest part
| of the homeward route, band of villains
who have been lying in wait for them, in
tent upon outraging the wife, daughter or
sweetheart, spring upon them. The man,
of course, will try to defend his consort,
for few men are so utterly devoid of the
heroic as to turn coward in the presence of
women, but what can he do He is of
only average strength and size, with mus
/ Giles probably softened by sedehtary habits,
while the villains he is called upon to COM
bat are large, brawny ruffians, strong of
arm and hard of fist, with muscles harden
ed by constant service. What can the man
do? Besides the disparity in individual
size, the assailants are three to one. Shall
he try to vanquish them with his fist :?
Yes, says the law against concealed weap
ons. But the attempt would only amuse
his assailants. Shall he cry for help Yes,
again saws the law But men who decide
on such crimes generally choose spots
where such calls will be unheard What
shall he do Cali on God, or on the po-
lice, says the law. But neither of these
parties even appear upon the scene until
the damage is done. In the mean
time his loved consort is being
outraged, what shall he do? Why, says
the law, If he can't overcome the villains
with his fist, and his cries for assistance
are not heard, he can either fold his arms
and look on, or if he can break loose from
his captors he can run twenty or thirty
blocks and telephone the police, and leave
the lady to take care of herself. This is
the advice practically given to every male
friend Of the victims of Favishment, to
every man who is attacked by thieves and
murderers, by the laws against concealed
weapons. And think the common senti-
ment e<~humanity win support me in say
ing that such advice is not only not very
comforting, but actually adds insult to in
jury. On the other hand what would be
the adEice of America is manhood? Put
your hand IN your hip pocket and draw
your 1Ahltii ~ sFESSOAs ANU a1Cd
through the seoundrels, and you'll thus
save thesherim d disagreeable job, and the
county-Iot Of expense" And in such
case, two or three of the villains should be |
stretched out on the sidewalk; there is not |
a jury IN the land which would convict the |
man who shot them even though he had /
been guilty of violating the law against |
concealed weapons. And were possessed /
of allthe wealth of the Vanderbilts. / |
would wager every penny of it that had /
the legislators who passed these laws been
attacked the day before by rufians, and I
their wives, daughters, or sweethearts raw
ished before their eyes, from want of q pis-
toll handy in the hip pocket. Instead of
passing law prohibiting the carrying of
weapons, they would have pas
sed one making the carrying of q pistol
on every man and woman.
It need not be said that this picture is
3verdrawn, for it is not, such crimes
occur every week, and almost every day
If our lives, somewhere, and are liable to