The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-06-01
: Kililpx North and 80 sth.

The South does not like to have her shot
gun and revolver proclivlties commented
upon, but Mr.. Henry Wattepon, son oil
the South, leaps to the defense IN deliver
auce which will call fresh attention to the
old theme. Mr.. SNatterSon. being invited
to address the literary societies OF Wander
bilt University. chose for his subject "Ihe
Homicldal Side of Southern Life" certain
Iva sufficient title to catch the attention
OF his hearers. D., W. 80
A few lines from the address gives US an
an idea Of what Mr.. Watterson. is aiming
att declare that the whole case against
the South as made out by our northern
critics Is falls; and assert that nowhere
In the world are the weak aud poor-in
other wUtci4, the enligrant class-so secure
az they ars with us" immigration has
been kept out Of the South by the "Homi'
cidal Side, and Bome Of the newspapers
Of the South have been frank enough to
confess lt.and exert their influence for the
building up Of q better public sentiment.
The man who il in search oil home Tor
his family does not feel himself strongly
drawn 10 a community whose "best citi'
zens" shoot down each other on slight pro-
vocation. ~, l-.. +
OF course there are murders, numerous
and brutal. in the North; but in the South
they are more numerous in proportion 10
the population. The Philadelphia Pres
pu,s this view OF it very iorcibly: "Mr.
Wattenon's own state has furnished more
examples Of homicide from tho higher
classes Of society in single year than can
be found by searching the criminal record
OF a corresponding class Of society in
Pennsylvania for a dozen years. In Ken
lucky in 1878 there were more homictdes
than in the eight states OF Maine, New
Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts,
Rode Island, Connecticut, Pennsylvania
aod Minnesota. Mr.. Watterson's own
n,wsr aper, the Louisville Courier Journal,
has reported murders III Kentucky at the
rate OF $3.50 year. There are counties in
Pennsylvania where the homicides do not
average one in five years Murder ismore
frequent among the foreigners who inhabit
the coal regions, but in the sameyear when
1856 human beings were killed in Kentucky,
only ninety were murdered in all Pennssyl
vAnia, whose population is three times that
OF the former state.D "a. uslE-' 'ld
But, in spite1of jury packing and the
shrewd practices Of cunning lawyers, muir
der is punished by hanging in the North.
There are miscarriagcs Of justice, hut it is
rare that Northern Jury vii. 10 squarely
against the evidence and acquit. 1t is no.
torious that in the South mot guilty" does
not mean that the accused is not a muir
derer, but is to be Interpreted, 1--WE, the
jury, sympathize with the accused and
don't intend that he shall be hanged"
There Is another difference in favor Of the
North-public sentiment is against murder
and In favor Of the law; lie is held in
higher regard and is much safer, as the rec.
ord shows. Mr.. Watterson says that "in
each section the slayer and the slain are Of
the worse, not the better, sort Of people"
This is generally true OF the North; OF the
South, frequently untrue-"Bpth parties
moved in high circles" "Colonel This shot
Judp, That" "Both families are well
known and highly responsibilities and
like phrases figure in most Of the reports
Of Southern killings, and these "well
known and highly esteemed" murderers
do not hang, III ., " Pr
Mr. Watterson's advice to the young
men was much better than his denial Of
unpleasant truths which make the advice
ma. A. .l,.nnhaII ,,nF III ha not