Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-05-14
A PERNICIOUS HABIT.
The Prevalence of the ReUoI0er Among
School Boys.

The Prevalence of the ReUolcer Among
School Boys.
To the Editor of the Globe.
ST.. PAUL, May 4, 1SS2.-Apropos to the I'M
timely end of young Drake by suicide, which
is graphically described in your to-day's issue,
is it not about time for the proper authorities
to initiate more stringent measures to prohibit
the carrying of concealed weapons. It is true
that the law forbidding it exists, but it is
equally true that it is, with a rare exception,
dead letter upon our statutes, or rather city
laws. Without exaggerating the matter, am
safe in asserting that, among our school boys
of the age of IA years and upwards, out of
every ten of that age two thirds carry con
cealed weapons and in order TO prove my as
sertion, let our worthy mayor instruct the
chief of police to make, Sudden and unan-
nounced) search at 2any OF the upper classes
for boys in our city schools and he will find
more reviewers, slurg shots, etc., than he can
carry away in his pockets. There seems to be
morbid desire IN cur youth 10 be the owner
of such an implement of death; he seems to
attach certain greatness to it; 1t makes him
feel like mani All, there's the rub! Men
set the example and youth is bound to initiate.
The question naturally arises, "Why do so
Everybody must admit that, generally
speaking, weapons are carried for means of
defense. Now, then, why is it necessary to
carry pistols and the like, speaking of the law
abiding and orderly class of citizens? 1t is
the existence of certain sense OF insecurity in
our people against the attack of the tramp,
foot-pad, thief, rapist, or murderer, or what
our population whe prey upon their
fellow-men. Again How is it pos
sible that that lawless element
can prevail among US TO such an alarming
extent, so as to create this certain sense of
insecurity? l can only answer: "Our laws
and our lawyers make it sol" The former,
like our old fashioned rail fence, with a hole
in every section to creep through; and the
latter, especially the legal gentlemen of the
criminal code persuasion, who, by their alert
ness, and vigilance, and vigorous application,
and devotion, to the cause they are employed
in, will search the whole length of that fence,
day and night, and take advantage OF every
hole to pull their client through, more for the
sake of cdding to their already great renoacn
than to earn their fees! The more
they are convinced of the cFiminality
of their client, and the more helnous
the crime, The greater their energy and the
higher the applause if they pull their criminal
through, although after they have suacet ded,
they must admit and often state, II knew he
was guilty, but was bound to clear him!"
This may be glory and renown TO the criminal
lawyer, but it helps to augment and increase
that certain sense of insecurity, which at
times breaks forth and enacts scenes like the
one perpetratsd at Minneapolis.
1 dare ay there is no one to deny that the
lynching of McMaRns was not a great moral
wrong; yet there is scarcely man but who
will raise his voice in defense of that act II
those men at Minneapolis had been certain
that the law would have been swift and sure
to convict that human monster, Judge Lynch
would cever have been appealed to.