The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1884-11-29
LAX GRANT PARISH La. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29. 1884.

avaiust h, the evil h . growing one,
~ sa,cicty viii have to take hold and
correct il, ~ IL will get the upper hand
Of spciety. IL IL the outgrowth Of u
false and pernicious education acting
un minds naturally weak, rather than
che prsduct Of q nature hopelessly de-
uy.yed .nd wicked. In sasme Of the
rurislses Of our State this tendency ."
violence 10 alarningly on the increase;
and, what IL worse, the naOse ATTRACTIONS
crimes fiwd ready consloielnent IN the
very communion In which they arc,
.pernetrated. In your own parish, l
am informed, matters have mot jet
reached this point. The disposition to
brutality and violence dues not prevail
to thia alarming degree, bot II exists
still To such an extent a tO call Tor
some remark. ,
N.,st Of the hoMicides Of the present
day are to be traced to the inspirations
of this false teaching. With the dssca-
plea of this school brute courage takes
rank among the higher attributes 81
manhood. aud il held In high rover
enca. No wonder that the criminal
ENJOYS immunity Whom his own crimes
are cmblasoned BY . vitiated public
sentiment with all the tinsel Of virtne |!
This false philosophy pervades and
| ne, meates all ranks 1T society. 1t AZ
fects the pure administration VI justice.
| The Juror in the jury box il Ne much
under the peruiciOus influence ut 1t, M
the culprit he tries. or the c"mmanlty
which apologies for his crime. I'm
der it's false teachings the accused il
tried by one law, which 10 the divine
one, but is acquitted under another,
not di vine, and the imppuity lie enjoys
is the pledge which s0ciety takes that
the crime will be- repeated on the first
favorable opportunity.
| As long as this condition Ut society
lasts the administration Of criminal
;ustice cannot remain otherwise than
liuefiicieut. In the meanwhile 1t IL tilt
n,a.i,Iest folly to complain Ut the courts
who are not responsible for this cs''.eii
ton Of things. Nor would 1t be alto
. rether lust to conins the responsibility
Nv 70 the trial juiies. We mnst lOOl
beyond the jury hox for the seat VI tl'
disorder. The responsibility must b
/ placed where it properly belongs.
IL 10 he traced hS the lamentatly ZOOS
! and criminal notions which prevail o
. the subject Of homicide IN ~ many q
our Southern communities.
Il The correction of this state Of thing
| ia the object aimed at. And to do TIL
| tho disorder must be treated Mt i
: snurces. Public sentiment must '
! rrfovinsd. Bat this ID not to be effec
= Red by public Outcries when some erin
Iof peculiar and exceptional attrOcil
r has been perpetrated. The citizs
who Joins in sich cutlery, aud imngin'
\, he has discharged that PARTON III u
4 duty which every man Owes to societ
= grossly deceives himself. On the col
!. tiary he dues society q positive ilJur
Il He creates a stats Of feeling which.
n permanent. would bS highly unfair
n the offender, and, il not p~rinssnei
+ which in sure to b. followed BY . .
\, vulsinn equally unfair Ia the publ
What is really needed Is healtl
=. public opinion constantly aud even
exerted ut all tunes and under all co
= ditiuus, which extends tn every ia
$ ton If the community and accords 9
:. evil deer and his crime mo- great
:" rights ar immunities than beI0ng
i. the law-abisling cit zen. and you In
I" csts blisI,ed that which Is the basis
= all sOcial order. In some of our old
- communities this sort Vt public SEP
!. ment already prevails, and crimes
= this magnitude are therefore compaI
-, lively unknown.
- One Of the causes tn which many
-. our homicides may be attributed. -
- be found in the habit which prevails
=" carving concealed weapons. ready
=. ne used on the slightest provocati'
w. This custom appears to he connneti
.,s NO particular class Of our popuiati'
- but il participated IN alike by old
~ we'll ~ young. / have observed "
=. much regret that our c0lored p"pu
os tiop have commenced to initiate
~ uractice of their white brethren in g
" respect. They would do themsel
=. credit, and the public service. If q
:. would steer clear Of practice VIII
has in 60 many cases 40 little u exc
20 ar defend it either in morals or
: more convenient plea II necessity.
en-. never look into . showcase In
ire of our stores aud zee one IF Oh
lu- deadly weapons exposed for sale
Of do not involuntarily exclaim to
J. self, "F0r whose boy Is thisf' ne
a. s~e one of our youths with one
these arms belted around him. sw
~. :. rering about the streets with all
~. affected airs and bearing ut b
-" street rowdy, that ! do not feel I
Ia there may be only one step betw
' =. him aud the peniteutiary or ha
man's ps0se - and that a swallow
III two Of that poisonous stun which
49," Le had ut any Of our street corner
49,. cruss- roads. II he escapes sithe'
~. will be through the fOrbearance q
-, community whose moral sentimcn
! -" ! has perhaps contemned, outraged
~. hullied. Twill b. fur the sfeer v
-. Of . victim. The community geu
|. . - men, ask, ~ they have the undout
y W. | osuk aIuX