The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1885-01-17
II.eleoplta (oluu.,,
CoLoRA, Jan. 18th, 1885,

To The Editor Of Tile Cecil WAig:
The article in the paper of last week,
about the recent affair on our railroad
calls for passing notice.
Its language is too extenuating. |
was pleased with paragraph upon the
same affair from the Philadelphia Ledger.
1t recommends that if the law has force
it's utmost severity, should be applied
here, and adds such outrages cannot be
tolerated in a civilized community.
- To give the thing eclat, by speallir. Of
captured train" and then call it "a
foolish freak of two farm boys'-to pub
lish their fabricated excuse for such
freak-that ''they had been drinking
hard, ito speak of it throughout, as
though it had been but hilarious game
at football, and wind up by saying 'ths
actors appear to be mild, good hammered,
harmless young men," is to put false
glare upon crime and publicly invite its
repetition rather than repress it.
The James" brothers, were nurtured
in a career OF precoclous wickedness by
the incidents Of the civil wsr. Their
surroundings acting upon minds Of reck-
less daring, may explain the possibiii-
ties of their career. But that boys
brought up in the peaceful shades of
the Brick Meeting House. should
take it into their heads to enter upon
such an undertaking" were indeed 'hard
to understand" But for the literature,
this need not necessarily have been
yellow covered. THAT sort is doubt
less very bad. But it is to be feared this
article in The WING may give to some
minds already prone to evil, a bent i'll
that direction. We have class OF in
considerable people who speak in terms of
tolerance of sowing wild oats" What
ever excuse there may be in the minds of
such persons, for this underlined tritiing
with the amenities of life, it is here
thrown around the conduct Of these
young novices in crime. What goes by
the name of yellow covered" literature
should of course be placed under ban by
all christian parents. Such details OF
cunning and outrage. as may 60 to make
up the life OF Jesse James, should find
no place in tho community. And then
consider the public papers-style aad
tone have a great effect, even when the
matter treated of has claims to be con
sidered. Living no. far from where
these boys were schooled in their designs,
and thus began their career | have had
an opportunity of learning something of
their teaching and its results. 1t ali
goes to settle former convictions that
such concomitants of early live, AS alb
surd and indecent pictures-degradin.
litsrature-the use of pistols-detailS OF
crime-looseness in the tone of the news
REPRESENTATIONS of idleness, and lack
of parental care, 60 to make up terrible
training establishment for the rising
generation. Yours, B.
THE above is from an old corrsspon-
dent who is trying to tramp little upon
our corns, though We do not think he has
succeeded to any great extent. We ap-
prove heartily of all he says, while at the
same time we believe, had he been pres
ent at the time of our interview with the
two misguided youths who have kicked
up all this buster, he would now snier-
tain about the same opinion that We do,
III thereto. Ii lB Idu UCrh pC1
mitted to gaze upon this pair OF crest
fallen repentant amateur road agents at
the time they took THAR first look at the
locks and bars OF the interior Of Elkton
Jail, and listened to their relation of the
story Of their crime, We are sure, NO
matter how stoical he may usually be,
he would have INDUCED in hearty
laugh. While this act was in principle,
decidedly criminal, if it was not in exc
| cutiou most laughable, then we are not
capable Of judging of the ridiculous.
| What these boys most need is three to
FIVE years in a good refermatory institu-
ton A term in the penitentiary will al
its close launch them upon society in
much worse condition than they now are.
We are of the opinion that effort should
be put forth to reform rather than to
punish in case like this.-ED.