The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1883-06-14

The meeting then adjourned.
ID. i. BRADLEY, Chairman.
w. vi. iiAEOOD, Secretary.
Tic 'i'rHc Light In which Murder Ap.
penrs.
MIR. EDITOR: My attention has often
been attracted to the careless and al
most encouraging tone in which many
Of our papers speak of the Nihilists Of
Russia, and their attempts to murder the
Car and other officials Some make n
joke of it, some speak of it rs n matter
Of trivial moment--such as the killing
Of dog, squirrel or rabbit, and some
have even gone to the extent Of publish
ing interviews with Nihlists, in which
they boastcd Of the murders which they
had committed, and the editors attempt
ed to excuse their murtlerous designs,
and to class them with heroes. on the
ground that they were living under n
tyrannical government. Few, very few,
appear to realize that they are educating
the public mind, and influencing them
either for good or for evil. Recently II
widely circulated paper rather suggested
that the safest time for the Nihilists TO
strike the blow would be after the co.
ronation Of tho Car is over, and when
the officials arc off their guard and still
not one word was said against the foul
design. 1t appears to me that it is sim
full and very unwisc to oprcsent a murderer
to the public gaze as n hero and patriot.
No one more ndmircs the true patriot
(cven when under the cloul! of misfor-
tunc) than do, but have not parti-
Gle of sympathy with the sneak and the
murderer; and think that our papers,
one and all, should exhibit murdercrs
(whethcr the Nihilists OF Riississ, the
Dynamitists Of Ireland or the Comuiun-
lists of France) in the abhorrent light
which belongs TO them. Murder is muir
der, whether committed on the Car of
Russia or the President Of the United
States. Who knows how much the crazy
and egotistical brain of Guiteau may
have been influenced by the encourage
ment and eclat given to the Nihiists by
many Of our Northern papers? They
excused the Nihilists on the ground that
the Car was tyrant, who oppressed his
subjects and stood rs q barrier to tn pros
perity Of his country. Guiteau looked
on President Garfield rs tyrsnt who
retarded the progress Of his party, and
through his party, the prosperity Of his
country. Guiteau has pcrshed on the
scaf!old Us murderer, but the Nihilists
are interviewed and encouraged. is
there any difference between numbering
the President Of the United States and
the Car of Russia or the humblest citi.
zen of Russia or America? Murder is
murder, especially when deliberately
planned Us by the Nihilists, and every
honorable, and surely every Christian
person, should look with disgust on their
designs. Is there not something terrible
in the idea of man and his family be.
ing bounded to death rs the Nihilists
have pursued the Car and his family 2
and yet have seen few (if any express
sions of sympathy for the devoted wife
and mother whose life, and the lives of
those dearest to her, have been so ruth
lessly and constantly threatened. Is it
that the men of America are losing their
manhood and chivaliy, or that, through
thoughtlessness and love of the sensa.
tional, they are subduing the nobler i'm
pulses of their nsture7 Who is to be
the judge of tyranny? Arc our young
people to be educated that murder is ex-
cusable to do away with tyrant, and
that they are to be tie judges of such
tyranny God forbid There arc but
two cases in which bloodshed has ever
been excusable: the one in defense of
female virtue aud in preserving the pu-
rity of the family circle; the other in self
defense, or in personal encounter. The
plotting, scheming, sneaking murderer
should be an object of the greatest alb.
horrence to every one, let him cloak his
baseness under any name whatever. If
any party, in any country, is not strong
enough openly to defend their rights,
then let them abide by the divine
and be subject unto "the
powers that be-" The South has set
noble example in this respect. After
having fought desperately, she has hon
orably submitted to the consequences Of
defeat. Who could imagine the patriot
Washington or the noble Lee in the
slightest degree sanctioning any party
in attaining their ends through murder3
The press is welding a mighty influence
for good or for evil. I notice that in d
school In this county your paper has been
introduced to be read instead of the usual
A good idea! But oh
Low careful should our papers bs not
10 introduce any subject which will
cheapen virtue, or familiarixe the public
mind Especially the young) with crime.
a. 4