The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1882-10-19
souK LESSONS FROM THE sEAYBAcK
TRAGEDY.


=, lesson for our most serious considera.
,;on, Shall We not take courage, first Of
m 10 demand, by law aud public senti-
nam, what may be called universal dis.
,,msment OF private citizens, that is the
ma abandonment of this barbarous habit
ofcarrying concealed weapons? We have
aver soldiers and more fighting men than
,,y civilized people on the globe.
And we persist in this absurd habit in
a unprotected community because we
cherish the exploded delusion that
ne possession of deadly weapons
tends to personal security in lie
md property, Look carefully at criminal
satisfies and you will see that the vast ma
ority of the men who lose their lives from
Violence are the men who are.quite willing
and ready to resort TO violence. You find
syerywhere that only very small number
Al lsw.abiding and unarmed citizens are
found In those quarrels and broils in which
THRMuRDERous PISTOL
IA the readiest argument. Men whose
pssceable reputation is well established in
The community very rarely have any we'll
rrounded apprehension OF social violence.
Had you or gone into that newspaper
ohice to demand the retraction of Islander,
wa misstatement, there weuld have been
no brutal assault? 1t was because the I'M
fortunate man who is now lying in his COT
fin was known TO belong to that class who
are always ready to beside disputes with
violence, that the quarrel had deadly
termination. And this has always been
The case. When men wore swords at their
L., tlaU wa an oil .
every street corner, and fighting hasty duets
optie lightest provocation. We must dis,
arm and trust our protection TO the power
Ofthe law. If the laws that protect private
regulations are weak and inefficient we
have nobody TO blame but ourselves.
Its cowardliness for us to leave the law
such broken sword that justice depends
for yindcation upon personal violence.
What shall they do who cannot seek the
remedy OF blood? Shall they be left help
less before the venom OF the slanderer? We
must have remedy to which all can APP
peal with equal confidence and hope of pro-
lection, rich and poor, high and low, weak
and strong; and that remedy can only be
fair, Just and impartially administered law.
And the tragedy forces upon us with re-
newei emphasis that question of constantly
charging Importance, What shall we do
with our newspapers? The solemn fact is
that we are becoming more and more II
newspaper-ridden, a newspaper-governed
community. In the hurry and intense ac-
iion of our complex life but little time is
left, ordinarily for mature thinking upon
any subject disassociated from our general
occupation. So we have grown into the
habit OF accepting the ready-made iudg-
mentS of men and things we find
in our daily press. Thus has
The power of the newspaper
Immensely enlarged during one generation.
lido not pretent to say that there is no
bright side to this picture. The newspapers
have often been more yigilant and enter
prising in hunting down and exposing
crime and corruption, social and political,
than the paid officers of the law. They
have unveiled social hypocrisy, pilloried
social meanness, punished with pltiless
publicity those crimes for which the statute
books provided no remedy, and have been
one mighty instrument by which public
opinion has re-created the most important
Institution of our day. The essence of
civilization lie the close relation between
the peoples Of the earth, and no power on
The planet has contributed more to the ere
alton Of wholesome, free and universal
public opinion, which touches with its
ocean wave the remotest people in clyiliza-
ton, than the press. But We have to take
our greatest blessings with drawback.
The newspaper has championed the no.
best causes; IL has also elevated, or tried
ioeeyate, the greatest scoundrels 1t has
nObly defended innocent regulations, but
i has ioully blackened spotless names
Some one has said, If you want to write
your autobiography and have forgotten
any details, simply run for an office, and
THE NEWSPAPERS
will supply the needed information. |
think it may be said with perfect fairness
that scarCsly man in this country has
run for prominent Office who has not been
guilty of some meanness or crime that
should seriously affect his standing in the
social or commercial world-if the word II
the newspapers is to be taken. We have
in our midst a gentleman who possesses
no doubt, his share of the imperiections
and weakness Of human nature, but one
who has hitherto borne an unblemished
personal and professional reputation. He
cherishes the harmless and even com.
mendable ambition to represent his district
IN the national legislature. Instantly, il
We may believe certain representatives oi
hepu0llc press, he is proven TO have been
guilty OF certain acts that ought to drive
nm out otthe ranks any honorable pro.
tSion. Why,such utilization is unspeska,
Wy shameful, aud the more shameful when
Nus known that, in all probability, even
tne newspaper that asSails him only speaks
Ma'fickwickisn sense does not believe
sown ISLANDERS, and when the campaign is
twill probably express its regret for the
course which the cNigencies of . political
contest rendered temporarily necessary
VINO rs TO BLAME.
Now who ID to blame for all this Nc
cpet would expose lies, SANDER and de.
traction TO public sale IL there were not
peh'y OF purchasers. II is in its revenues
mat newspaper is tho most sensitive. II
Ae reputable and honest men of local
sanding and consequence in this com.
Munlty would say with dignity, tirmness
aud rnanimity, this slander.peddling thi.
| tipping open OF the confidence of private
households, this besmirching of regulations
must cease, they hold In their hands and
~ iheir pockets tho dreaded weapons by
NAich newspapers can be forced into de.
Iency and veracity. Those weapons arr
golac and cents, But who rcbukes these
nh1erouS misstatementsg Not the mer'
saahlS, or the bankers, or the exchange, OF
Me Professions, or the churches. The
PUBLIC conscience has become callowed; our
salyslry has lost its sensitiveness. We are
aeeles about the wounds that are In.
.c,ed upon the regulations OF our noblcs'
paoAc men. Now, where 10 the remedy
.nese great wrongs cannot be righiei by a
,ssou 10 the dangerous weapon Of private
naeeance. There must be wholesome
,uahse IN public sentiment, II needs tina,
Me tonic OF true courage should be pu,
nlO The public mind and heart. think
sometimes that cowardice is the distin.
gushing characteristic Of our public spirit,