Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-12-20

The people Of New Orleans have about
made up their minds that t IS impossible
% hang white murderers IN that clty. II
is possible 20 hang negro murderers there.
A week ago last Friday n that city a
negro suffered the extreme penalty Of TIE
law. No petitions were sent TO the Gov
ernor in has behalf. The local politicians
didn't use their influence with the board
OF pardons for him. The law was allowed
TO take its course without interference
from any body. That was right. The
/ negro was guilty Of a horrible crime and
there was no reason why he should not
/ have suffered as the law directed.
But why should there be dlscrimina-
ton: Why should leniency be shown to
/ white murderers when none is shown to
( black? Does not the good Of society de-
maud that murderers shall suffer tire
same kind Of punishment whatever may
he the color OF their skins:
Last Friday was the day fixed for the
execution Of TWO white murderers at New
| Orleans. Twice they had been respi-
/ ted. They had been convicted after
iair trial. Twice the Board Of
Pardons had reviewed their cases at the
earnest solicitation Of their friends, and
/ twice had refused to interfere to save
] them from the gallows. There was no
! ground for interference. There wasn't a
| DOUBT OF their guilt. The New Orleans
| Pjcdyune, speaking Of the murder which
| they committed, said: at was one of the
most dastardly aud outrageous crimes
| ever perpetrated in this State. In all our
blood-stained annals there has never been
so atrocious a Staying of citizen. 1t
shocked the whole community, and raised
CRY of indignation throughout the coun-
try"
These white murderers were not execu-
ted last Friday. The politicians mustered
IN force, and weak Governor yielded to
their opportunities. Again were these
murierers respited. Nobody at New Or
leans now believes that they will ever be
hung. They will be sent to the peniten-
iary for life, and IN a few years the same
influences which saved them from the gal
lows last Friday will secure their pardon.
These murderers may never stain their
| hands in human blood again, but she fact
that they escaped the gallows after hav-
ing deliberately assassinated a fellow
citizen in public street, at midday, will
he interpreted by others in New Orleans
as an announcement that murder may be
committed without fear Of the death
penalty.
But what must be thought of COM
munity which lacks the moral stamina to
compel the punishment of horrible crimes
in accordance with the law, and where
public sentiment is so vitiated that the
effort to rescue red-handed murderers
from the gallOws by men occupying high
official positions and by citizens Of promi-
hence is not condemnedY
Attention is directed to these New Or
leans murderers because in this com.
munity, no longer ago than last week. il
/ was found impossible to visit the severest
/ penalty of the law upon a white murderer
whose bloody deed unprovoked and in
| eXcusable, aroused such a feeling OF in
| dignatiOn and horror that the want
of bold leader alone prevented
him from being lynched. But although
there was not one single palliating cir,
cumstance in this murderer's case il
seems there were men among the jurors
who tried him who thought be ought to be
saved from any punishment whatever.
A few days ago the City Council of New
| Orleans debated the proposition to repea
the ordinance against carrying con cealeC
weapons. The argument in favor OF the
| proposition was that as it was about i'm
| possible to punish those who either tool
human life, or attempted to take it, with
/ out legal reason or excuse, peaceably dis
| posed and law-abiding citizens should b.
| permitted to carry deadly weapons 70
their own protection. Is not this de
| plorabie confession for a civilized com
munity to make? And yet even in thi
community where the religious sentimen
is strong, and where the churches are S
numerous as to attract the attention c
strangers, it would not be strange If tn
willingness of jurors to excuse murde
should create feeling that human lite i
insecure.