The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1897-12-01


The German army swept over Austria
and France within few months re-
spectively. The battles were lost aud
won by professional soldiers and reg
ular armies. Neither tho people Of
Austria nor of France had time to be-
come familiar with the cruelties of
war. But our war lasted for four long
years. The whole Southern country
was Overrun. Armies marched, ad-
vanced and retreated again and again
over the same ground. There was
scarcely house in which there had
not been dead or wounded soldier
friend or foe. The sensibilities of
men became blunted, and the tender
ness even of women was strained. In
facing death for four years men be-
came accustomed to live in immediate
apprehension, and the constant strain
weakened and deadenened alike the
fear and horror Of its inhiction.
There can. be no doubt Of the lasting
effect of this unfortunate experience.
2. THE MILITARY IMPRESS UPON GOV
EKMENT.
1t will surprise many of the present
day to be told that the arming of con-
stables and policemen was never known
before the war. Policemen carried
"billies," small clubs and rattlcs to
call assistance, but no pistols. The
arming Of the police and the indis-
criminate use of firearms by them is
altogether foreign to the English
common law under which we live.
The habit has grown out Of the Gus
toms of war. 1t is relic Of camp
life. No one, policeman or constable,
has the right to take the life Of per-
son attempting to escape, unless the
person has been arrested as o. felon,
and even then the taking of life can
only be justified upon the ground Of
necessity. The law upon this subject,
as laid down by Hir Bishop, is, in
substance, that an officer having a
prisoner in custody for felony who at
tempts to escape willbe excused for
killing him if he cannot otherwise be
retaken, but if he can BE- otherwise
retaken, in any case, without resort to
| such harsh measures, it will be at
least manslaughter to kill him. But
in cases where the person slain is ar
rested OF held in custody for a misde-
meanor and he fly or attempt to es-.
cape it will be murder in the officer to
kill him, although ne cannot be other
| wise overtakcn. Bishop, Criminal
Law, Sections 648-649. AS said in
the case of Reneau vs.. State, 2 Lea,
72O, it is considered better to allow
one guilty of misdemeanor to escape
! altogether than TO take his life. Yet
how constantly now do we see police
men and constables shooting down
men charged enly With email ofgcnces.
This custom is the survival OF the
habits of army lifc-constables and
policemen act as if they were guards
ol outposts or ssntineis in war, with
the duty and authority to shoot and
kill il one refuses to halt when or
dered.
3. THE coNTEarr OF civil. GOVERN
MENT. sai.
The war, and the Federal military
government which succeeded it in the
South, habituated the people to tho
idea Of the absolutism Of military
rule. The generation which grew up
Immediately after peace was nominal
ly established witnessed the rule of
the sword. They saw the civil Courts,
which opened and attempted to ad-
minister justice, closed by military
satraps. Judges arrested and;sheriffs
removed at the mere will Of command
ers of military districts. Then fol-
lowed the Reconstruction Era, when
they, and the generation following
them. beheid men of the lowest char
meter and .grossest ignorance, strang-
ers, Governors, Judges and law max
ers. They, aliens and negroes, set mp
ever them, ,sand saw-.h;s government,
supported IS it was by military power,
subservient to military rule. They
held it in. contempt This injury to
there reverence and regard for civil gov
ernment has been incalculable. White
men would not bring themselves to ap-
peal for justice 80 negro Judges and
negro juries. They disdained to speak,
even to q Moses or ask pardon Of
Scott. They learned to take the law
into their own hands, and to protect
tAcir persons and their rights by the
strength of their own right arms.
4. THE HABIT OF CARRYING WEAPONS
-