St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-03-01
dread, we will have our little jokes
at these demons of the air."
CoRREcrING THE PISTOL HAp1r

SOnhGCIANG The PISTOL HABIT.
The Southern states are moving Wig
orously In the direction of removing
those objections that lie in the path Of
and obstruct immigration Of people
from the North, who, attracted by the
milder climate, would like to make
their homes there. We recently re-
ferred to the crusade begun by some
OF the prominent papers Of that region,
and carried into the legislatures of
some OF the states, against what may
be termed the lynehing HABIT which,
while not exclusively INDUCED IN Fl
the South, Is more frequently spbstt-
tuted there for the processes Of the
courts than in any ether section.
Another objection that the men Of the
North have to the social customs of
the South Is the readiness with which
the gentlemen of that region resort to
the hfp-pocket argument when tho dis
cussion becomes heated. OF resent
what their supersensttiverezs considers
an Insult. To people accustomed TO
the calm ways Of Northern society It
is deterrent to the desire 70 enjoy tbs
milder climate Of the South that some
day, in political discussion with
some native Of the sunny South, the
latter may find his most conclusive
argument in his hip-pocket.
The statutes of all the Southern
states contain provisions against car
rying concealed weapons and punish
the offense with penalties more or LEGS
severe, but it is evident, from the fire.
quency with which the "gun" Is
pulled" that the laws are more OBJ
served in the breach than the cbser-
vance. The fact that the deadly wea-
pons carried are concealed prevents
arrests for the offense; and when the
violation OF the law Is discovered, It is
usually when the lesser crime Is
merged in. the greater one of murder
in one of its degrees. South Carolina Is
making an effort to suppress the pistol
habit. A bill largely increasing the
penalties for carrying concealed wea-
pens was defeated because Of the con-
vlction that experience had shown the
fneffectiveness Of this method. Action
then took another and what looks as If
might be an effective course. A bill
is pending, with excellent prospects
of enactment, requiring that dealers in
fire arms be licensed. Each box Of car
tridges sold must bear the dealers
stamp. A person wishing to carry a
pistol Is required to take out a license
for which a round fee is paid The
provisions are further reinforced by
giving the right Of challenge at the
polls to the vote of the man who has
he is unable to establish his innocence,
his ballot is rejected. Pistols are to be
listed for taxation among personal as
sets.
Whatever may be the fate of this
measure, the fact of it's introduction in
that state Of hot-heads is indicative Of
a growing public opinion that is sure
to prevail in the end, If not by the force
Of legal enactment, then by it's own
inherent power. When we recall how
prevalent in recent years was the habit
of dueling there, how quick was the
touchy sense Of honor to demand and
get satisfaction on the field, and
how completely it has been sup
pressed by better popular sentiment,
it is not too much to expect that lyncfl-
ings and the pistol habit will cease to
give to Southern states an unenviable
prominence and to remove their bar to
Northern people seeking Southern
homes.