San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-02-28
WHERE RESTS THE RESPONSE
BILITY?

| sitiOn taken by IT on the Wnole ques-
ton of the southern election outrages.
1t charges that the LIGHT is wrong in
imputipg the Clayton assassination,
the Florida violence and the Missis-
sippi outrages and the Texas Danish
men S, to the people of the south, and
winds up it's arrangements by saying:
"If the LIGHT is republican, let it be
so and advocate the political prin ci-
pies of it's party. That is honorable.
And if it is southern and its propfle-
tors live in the south, let it be friend
| to the people among whom its proprle-
| tors live. That is u duty. But to live
among people and through the col
umns of an influential aud ably con-
| Quoted journal to use means to preJu-
| dice the rest of the world against
| them, and to interfere with their well
| fare and prosperity, is not manly nor
honorable, if one looks at the question
properly"
The LIGHT appreciates the courte-
say of the Gate City in this arraign-
ment and disclaims any attempt, I'M
Justly or unfairly, to influence, any
Judgment concerning the people
among whom it lives. All the same,
the LIGHT cannot shut its eyes to pal
pable facts, or dissemble in its eX-
pressions of judgment concerning
them. The Gate City does not deny
the facts alleged as to pOliti dis
rurbances and the loss of life and
treatened dangers to republicans
nf than, in tho IN
above men toned. The Gate City will
not deny that in eVe"y recorded IN
stance of such political murder,
threatened assassination, Punishment
or disturbance, that the same has
been in the interests of democratic
candidates for Office, and to the detri-
menJ of their republican opponents.
Neither can it be denied that the
great body Of the democratic press,
the democratic officers of justice, and
the democratic party at large, have
either been supremacy Indifferent to
such OutrageS, or have excused them;
and in all cases they have been
ready to profit thereby. 1t is true
that where murders have been COM
mttted, so red-handed and so provo
cative of national denunciatiOn as
| W DIS JLdI vi JUN SlotS lOh, oiiO" VI
concern was necessary, and large re-
! wards have been accordingly offered,
but no results have followed. 1t is
an accepted principal of soci-
ETY. that its general sehti-
| ment virtually Establishes its
laws. Where that sentiment is not
in favor of the strict enforcement of
auy law, that law is a dead letter on
| Il ~ Of
| sOniug then, when any law is a dead
letter upon the statute book, it is
! prima facie evidence that such law
is not supported by the general sense
| of community.
The laws against theft, ar
son, rapine and lust are enforced.
The laws against ballot box stutfing,
endorsed Punishment for obnoxious
| political activity, political assassin
| alton and kindred crimes are not en-
forced, and all attempts of the ma
tiOnal government to enquire into
these crimes is resented by the dem
Ocracy of the south as an inquisitiOn.
The LIGHT is not of the opinion that
endeavOring to Withhold the knoWl-
edge of these crimes and hide them
from the light of day is either wise or
| IuSU. IL 10 lIOlll uO uuiIicuulS nSSS "
any section of the country that it
passes its structures upon these I'M
lawful acts and condemns them. 1t
is from profound and ever deepen
ing conviction that the sectional diff
ferences, SO often referred to in south
ern journals, can only die by making
one Jaw for north and south, and ell
forcing it; it is from this conviction,
4 Nl,sr L. i
cides and speaks. Time will justify
the wisdom of its positions.
THE ladies of the Alamo Monument