New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-07-22
BURNING WORDS ON THE MDOW CASE.
THE DISGRACE TO CHARLESTON DISCUSSED BY
ITS MINISTER'S.


Charleston, S. c., July 21.-The Rev DR. c. C.
Pinckney preached sermon having direct refer
cnce 10 The Mellow trail at the Grace Episcopal
IhuNh to-day, choosing for his text Whose sheddeth
lnahs Diood by man shall his blood BE- shcd.' Dr.
finckney said the failure 10 recognize the crime of
murder, TO condemn 1t and TO punish It by legal and
soca condemnation Is the great uansgrcssion OF the
american people. The failure detect and punish
inc crime, he saId Is the weak point in our whole
JUDICIAL system. And The impotence Of the law he
continued, Is the result OF the lax public opinion
winch regards not the divine DEGREES against murder
hundreds OF murdercrs escape justice from these
causes, and the land Is dehlel with blood. The
result OF the recent trial In this city seems to
iah very far short II any censuro
OF homicide. IL has failed TO condemn crime, to
vindcac Gods law, or to protect human life against
me murierer's pistol. That human lfo has been
taken by violence is an acknowledged fact and tho
tribunals Of justice have no word of censure for the
oeed. Tho slayer is restored TO his place without
condemnation of sort, without fine. imprisonment
or any legal disapproval of tho wrong. Is not this
result calculated to cheaper human life and TO relax
inc bonds OF society. In this and every similar case
"heIo the armed man Stays the unarmed victim Gods
law and mans law demand the punishment Of the
decd in proportion to its crimInalty 1t is this lax
public sentiment which often takes the criminals
part and violates the rights Of justice, which. in Gods
name and in sOcety's behalf, I must condemn. 1t
requires high moral to detect crime, and much
more courage to punish It,
In summing up, Or. Pinclmey said Mercy TO
the murderer Is cruelty 10 the community Every deed
OF violence becomes the seed of future crime unless
rcproved by the majesty of Law. When lax public
sentiment excuses boodshed and refuses to exact
an adequate penalty, violence will riot in the com
muhity, ana innocent men and women suner for
Sad illustrations 0 Of this truth '' "''N '' ''''''''
DR.: McDow's trial also the subject Of the Rov.
Vcddcr said that the city of Charleston, sometimes
called the CITY OF Disaster" had received it. crown
ing catastrophe from Its hall Of justice. "Whether or
not the Judgment there rendered technically
laned he said, there cannot be doubt that large
and influential portion Of our community, and
wenigh our whole land, hold It to have
been there demonstrated that Charleston
holds nothing more cheap than human life.
One whose loss was public cal amity has been
stealthly done 10 death under circumstances that
than worthless slayer goes FORTH not only unscahcd
OF penalty, but aprlauded by some as well-doer.
1t Is lamentabe that there should be ground for
such momontOus difference Of opinion, or any diff
IS II possible, more lamenable that the kindred
SahsoD the rposssd d,.s, and tics pur wSb PSO c
earth knows. should be substantially lost sight Of In
Nay, that 1t should be made in the very irony Of cir
cumsances, TO operate justification OF that event
And,' concluded the speaker =" can our city be
worthy Of herself until the infamy be dsowned. the
blot repudated with bathing that here the most hal
lowed bond Of social life may be openly and boast
ngly violated without challenging eager Indignant,
unmstakable. unanimous execratiOn ~
Mellow VIII tomorrow be discussed by the wash
ington Light Infantry. the crack military company
OF The city, OF which he IS member He VIII be
expelled.