Iuka reporter. (Iuka, Miss.) 1888-1894, 1888-09-20
The Record for Crime that
mississippi is Piling Up.

| hat'ou VI Df. summons, OF Slke
county, lie was a prominent cti-
zen, and represented his county in
the legislature. He joined the Bap
list church in o meeting held by the
senior some years ago. and was
highly respected.
The trouble grew out Of his oppo-
sition TO certain laWless proceeding
in his county. He seems to have
been shot down without sl,ance for
his life. ~ ~.
Very recently DR.. Holiday was
assassinated by a hegro in Utica, and
the assassin was speedily hung by
| mob. 4,
Not q week passes scarcely ut
some dark crime is committed on the
soil of Mississippi. Dastardly assas-
s'nation is the prevailing order
among the bloody minded. Right
along with this carnival of bloodshed
there is a regular output of crimir
mails from the penitentiary. dis
Excellency, Gov. Lowry, continues
to neutralize the little work the en-.
feeblcd courts accomplish, by bis
ever ready pen. and the result is,
that not one man in fifty in Mssis.
sippi has confidence that a criminal
with the least bit Of standlrg will be
adequately punished. no matter what
his crime may be. This statement is
not too strong. Resulting from this
Is mob violence, and that is anarchy.
For years, we have done what we
could to build up in Mississippi,
sentiment favorable to law and or
der. We have said, that all the
honor and power of the State should
be pledged to the protection of the
life and property of the hnmblcst
citizen, white or black. AS q son OF
Mississippi, proud of her past histo-
~, and ambitious for her future, we
must confess to a sickening dlsap-
lpointment and deep humiliation.
- 70 day, the law in our State is no
protection to human life. Iawless.
ness is everywhere, and the sword OF
justice Is broken in the hands OF
sworn officers of the law.
CriminalIty is infectious. People
do not catch health; but they con
tract disease. The criminal classes
are quick to discern the temper OF
tho courts and the executives. They
know well when they may venture
And they glory IN every triumph
over laws, aud are quick to push
every advantage.
To day the lawless classes are pre-.
dominant. They gather about the
very toot-stool of power. They seem
able to influence and control the ad.
ministration OF public justice. They
torn close circle around the high.
est places of public trust, and The
official conscience is so blunted that
detaulters, forgers, murderers, and
all the lesser grades of criminals,
such as gamblers, drunkards, whore.
mongers are not only tolerated, but,
used to promote political schemes
and private enterprises.
IL Is needless to say that change
must take place, or lynch law viii
reign throughout our borders,
How shall change be Effected
First, every pulpit in tho State ought
to illuminate against the disorders SO
prevalent; and The duties of citizen
ship, from q scripturaI stand point,
ought to be assiduously taught. The
Bible is replete with instruction on
this subject. The pulpit can DO o
great deal toward creating the senti-
ment necessary to the enforcement
OF law.
Second, the pre-s ought to speak
out in unmistakable language. Great
er than tariff or any party issus is
the qnestlcn OF law and order. We
cannot prosper without protection
Third, we believe tAat pubic
meetings ought to be heic, to uphold
law and order, TO discuss the ooings
Of public servants, and to strengthen
the bands of such officers as are dis.
posed to do their duty.
Lastly, this matter of honesty aud
fidelity and cleanness in public life,
ought to be put in discussion in the
next political campaign IN this state.
1t is more TO US than tariff, than all
the matters in debate between all
the political parties in the Union.
1t is our lite. For dozen years, we
have been giving our time mainly to
dealing with the faults of people
along way from home. 1t is time
Miss'sslppi was setting her own
house in order.
| We can no longer deter it. And
the way for us to do II is for each
one 70 boldly and Independently 90
his part. Talk it, preach it, write it,
vote II, and we will have Baptist