The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1883-02-04
THE REVOLVER AND sooIErY


Tbs yicksburg Herald states that the
ratio OF revolyers TO sub-soil plows IN MIS-
sissippi is alarmingly in favor OF the former
implement. When the necessity Tor the
use oil the latter in turning up the IN
reached riches of southern soil is eoIsldered
In connection with the absolute inutilitY oil
the pistol, In any work save that Of his sa-
tanic majesty on earth, We are somewhat
surprised at such statement. Forty re-
volvers to one sub-soi pillow Two score
promoter, OF crime, lawlessness and
murder TO a single cultiyator, not
only of the earth, itself. but of
peace, harmony and good will among
men. Taking the assertions Of the Herald
as even an exaggeration of the actual and
existing state Of Affairs in portions OF the
south, how much is it TO be deplored2 What
use does the ordinary man of business, or
the husbandman who would thrive, have
for a revolver The gun with which he oc-
casionally shoots or kills the serenading cat
will amply protect him from burglary, or
the very inffequent visitation of the sneak.
thief. When he goes abroad in this land Of
civilization be certainly does not expect to
be waylaid by enemies or robbers. II he
did, life would be despoled of half its at
tractiveness, as the chief advantage to be
derived from municipal government con.
sists in the security OF life and property
1t affords its peace.loying citizens.
The disadvantages OF resolving ones self
into walking arsenal are too numerous
and obvious TO recite. In the first place it
is not manly to conceal pistol under your
clothing and engage in personal Contro-
versy with one who Is not similarly pro.
vidcd. by 81 doing you place him at great
disadvantage aud compel him either TO de-
cline the contest by humiliating concession
or else provoke you to the use Of your
weapon against AN unarmed opponent
Again, IL makes one quarrelsome and if
tho party armed happens TO take
'wco Drop too much, his hand
will fly to the hIp,pocket as surely
as the diverted needle will hasten
o point tho direction Of that northern
pole from which We are at present receiy-
ing SO rough and unwclcome visitation
The result will be that somebody will be
hurt either the hOt.headod drawer Or the
threatened drawee. IL Is also dangerous,
especially IN cities, to the lives OF others,
even to carry around with one these deadly
appendag,s, which argue either fear on the
part of the posscssor, or despcradosm
which rs far more discreditablc. II the files
of the HERALD were TO be searched there
will be found in nearly every weeks issue,
accounts Of cruel and o,ttlmes fatal acct
dents, occurring either from careless hand
ling or the reckless shooting OF par
ties engaged in settling their
difficulties in crowded thoroughfurcs
Many more instances Of the deplorable IL.
suits OF this pcrnicious habit might be ad
duced, but the most rcsretlul effect
OF It's continuance is to be
ound in the debasing effect it
has upon the persons engaged in the prac,
ticc. If IL is not relic OF barbarian, we
certainly do not know how to label IT,
These are not frontier times, when every
pioneer was on guard against the attack of
the red man, and we certainly have passed
tho age when the law has ceased to be the
protector against violence. This worse than
absurd custom assumes not only that such
times now prevail, but actually assists in
bringing them about The pistol carrier
Is ever ON the alert Tor an insult, ever ready
to think some undesigning person wants TO
knock chip oil his hat or project a clp'l-
lensc OF his manhood, LISA libel upon So
ciety, aud the man addicted to IL u.s. In u
measure, defer of civilization and an out
law, We dislike to see even tho officers of
: the law exhibiting their iyory-handlcd in.
struments Of murder, 1t dcmorali1es the
youth OF the country, and the occasion
for their employment 80 seldom occurs that
the few times they would require, without
having thcm on their persons would be more
; than compensated for by tho additionally
civilized and pcnccablc appearance pro-
duccd by their failure TO wear them as a
. quasi uniform We frequently see them 20
upon the witness stand with pistols strapped
around them aud never fail to be struck
with. tho mti-republican spectacle Our
10 United States Judge here promptly checked
the attempt OF an Official witness to appear
y before the Justice seat in that caparvon
: and never allows it In his court. We think
: more stringent laws should be adopted
' This is our prohibition ground. Wcbclieve
: IN tho absolute suppression of the vice
|, Not Only fine, but imprison maleiaoiors o.
I this type, and show the world that
the Texas of to-day is peopled by OF,
dorly and wcllbehayod citizens, wno re.
spect not only tlm rights aud feelings, but
: the Ideas of others. 10 isa distorted view
! of our society that the law.breakcr has NJ
4 right to picture to the world, aud he shoult
= sullcr the consequences of his slardcrOu.
Il reflections upon the body OF citizenship
And yet II is useless TO enact laws unlcs,
! sustained by public sentiment. Let tina,
> DO properly educated, and every thinkins
man, not only by example and expression
u condemn this harbarism, but constilut,
: himself II committee ot one to report every
instance OF the laws violated in this par
ticular, even though the offender be hi.
h. dearest friend Lot good men join In the
a endeaycr TO crush the monstrositv and II
4 will DO crushed
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