The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1895-05-30
THE TRAGEDIES OF LOVE AND
PASSION

The release by Recorder Whitaker of
DR. Samuel p. Schwing, held for the
murder of DR.. Emile Hiriart, the OUT
RACER of Schwing's home, was in accord
ance with a sentiment that has always
prevailed in the South and the judge
decision was hailed with an outburst OF
appreciation which shook the court room
to its foundations.
The Southern people have been charged
with barbarism and an entire lack of
civilization for resenting with ferocity
and avenging in blood attacks on their
women. Whether or not this accusation
| is lust depends on the view one takes OF
civilization. 1t has been held by those
who oppose violence in all such cases
| that the matter could be peaceably set
| tied by a suit for damages or by action
| for divorce. and in either case society
| would not be shocked and demoralized by
| acts of bloody violence.
If man can hold the sanctity of his
| home and the honor of the wife of his
bosom and of the mother of his children
at a money price-if, in a word, these
things which some men consider holy
have only money value and may be sold
whenever the price is electromagnetic
Picayune frankly says that it will not
countenance any such degrading and
loathsOme opinions of life and human at
fections. They strike the lowest note OF
depravty and are worthy only of brutes
that in morality are far below the beasts
that perish.
But" say some of the advocates of the
higher civilization, why should a man
trouble himself about an unworthy
woman? She violates every law, divine
and human. when she voluntarily leaves
home, honor, social position and all that
should be dear to Il true woman to share
the unholy passion of a libertine. Why
not secure a peaceful separation and let
her go, giving the deserted husband also
an opportunity also to seek sOlace and
pleasure in other fields"
If love be merely an expression of ami
NAL instinct, then there is little differ
ence to a man what woman he shall take
to wife. If personal honor, self-respect
and pride of family be mere idle sentimen
tally, then marriage is lowered to the
condition of an accident. If demand for
the honorable descent of the race to be
a useless concern, why not establish the
conditions proposed by Plato in his Gre
public" and make all children the chill
dren of the State? 1t is to this that the
higher civilization, so-called, tends.
But if love chooses out from all the
world Il single object upon which to Law
ish its affections if it makes that object
Il lltNlOuS anu Cutl lSuCNl Olt, anu IL ILLS
love be sanctifed by the gift of children,
shall not man meet like lion, and tear
like a lion, the bereaver of his love- the
destroyer of his home? 1t must not be
forgotten that not all men and women are
happily married. and it sometimes hap.
pens that, in such a case, heart starving
for real affection may be induced to stray
from the way of honor and duty; but the
man who unlawfully invades the home
of another does so at his peril. He takes
his life in his hand, and he stands ready
at need, after having robbed a family of
its honor and happiness, to STAY the robbed
and defrauded head of that family.
The people of the South have not yet
attained the higher civilization in their
treatment of ravish hers and seducers. They
must still endure the charge of barbarism,
but it is a barbarism that every strong
hearted, high-spirited man who truly loves
who hOnOrs the object of that love, and
who would faithfully guard the sancity of
his home, would approvC.-New Orlean
Picayune.