Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-05-23

A few DAYS ago. in an elaborate article,
the Charleston Nesrs and Courier re-
viewed the criminal record Of South Caro-
lima for the year 1SS3. II appeared that
there was a very large number Of petty
crimes. such as stealing. committed by
/ c0lored people, and comparatively few
crimes Of that character committed by
white people. The record, however,
showed that a large number Of crimes Of
violence were committed by white people.
Inc press Of the South has been accus-
| toned 70 reply 70 the charges Of the North
ern press that human life was held cheap
Is in the south by pointing out the many
horrible crimes that are constantly con-
mitted in the Northern States. II IS no
doubt true that the proportion Of crimes
10 the number u the population IS
greater at the North than among the
white people Of the south, bnt the crimes
are different. Tue perc entage Of crimes
Of violence Is not nearly 50 large at the
North. The taking Of human life Is not
REGARDED with near - much horror at the
south a. az the North. Il is the frequent
use oi the shotgun and pistol. and the
ates the impression that there Is a great
amount Of Iawlessness at the South. The
shooting Of a policeman and a private
citizen by Began Cash in South Caro-
lima. attracted the attention Of the entire
country. Grimes like that help 10 give the
impression that there is a spirit oflawless-
ness IN the South, 70 check which little or
nothing is done. a few weeks ago ourdis-
| patches gave an account Of an assault in
Kentucky made by an attorney named
| COrneils0n upon Judge Reid with cow
[ hide. A few days ago the suicide Of Judge
Reid was announced. Public sentiment
/ demanded that Reid should resent the
| insult with a deadly weapon. 50 strong
was this sentiment that Reid could not
/ face it. and in a moment Of despair he
| took his own life. In speaking Of this case
\ the Louisville COurier-.JOuTudl said:
| Judge Reid is the victim Of the cow
| ardly assault Of one man. and the yitiated
| public sentiment Of the State. His muir
| derer IS John Jay COrneilson, but in a
| community where law was enforced,
| where crime was swiftly and surely pun
ished. where life was protected, where
| prevailed an intelligent appreciation OF
I
! uphold the laws Judge Reid would not
| have died as he did.
Again we say, as 50 often we have said
| in these columns, that from the sin Oh
| blood outlines no citizen Of this COM
/ m0nwealth is free. We do not deal with
| crime as we ought. We tolerate murder
| and pardon vice, and honor criminals II
they are brave. Physical pTOwess IS the
| only virtue that appeals to as. We are
! passionate, unreasonable, unrestrained,
lawiess. Society protects no man either
| BIZ its recognized rules Of law nor by that
| public sentiment which gives strength
and force and vitality 10 all written laws
Until we change all this; until murder IS
punished; until we educate men to look
to the law for protection and VlndicatiQn
until the law does what IL pretends TO do,
/ what Il Is instituted for, we should cease
our b0asting, and no longer content our
| selves with trait, and achievements
l which equally distinguish the barbarouz
and half-ciyilized communities.
There is no doubt that public sentiment
in Kentucky is, in a measure, responsible
for Judge Reid's death, and public senti-
ment i'm other Southern States is response
bic for many Of the crimes OF violence
that are committed. If the law against
shedding human blood were as rigldly
enforced as that against petty thieving
there would not be such frequent and
ready use Of the pistol and the knife. All
the agencies which are used to educate
the people--the press, the pulpit and the
schools-should be employed to correct
this Initiated public sentiment which para
Ives courts and juries when they arc
called on to deal with those whose hands
are red with human blood.