The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1897-12-02

otherwise overtaken. Bishop Crimi
nal Law, Sections 6iS-GI9. AS said i;
tho case Of Rencau VS.. State, 2 Lea
'2o, 1t is considered better to ALLOW on,
guilty OF misdemeanOr to escape
alIogcther than to take his life. Yet
no" constantly now do we SEQ police
men ana constables shooting down men
charged only with small offences. This
custom is the survival of tho habits OF
army life-constables and policemen
acI Us II they were guards on Outpcsts
or scntincls in war, with the duty and
authority to shoot and kill if one re,
| fuses TO halt when ordered.
s. THE CONTEMPT OF CIVIL. GOVERN.
MENT.
! Ihe war, and the Federal military
government which succeeded it in the
south, habituated tho people to the
luea ol the absOlutism Of military rule
INC generation which grew up i'm
medlatcly after peace was nominally
established witne ssed the rule Of the
sword. They saw the civil Courts,
"nlch opened and attempted TO ad-
minister Justice, closed by military
satraps. Judges arrested and sherilfs
removed at the nero will of com
mandcrs Of military districts. Then
followed the Reconstruction Era.
when they, and the generation follow.
ing them, behcld men OF the lowest
character, and Of the grossest igno-
rance, strangers, Governors, Judges
and lawmakers. They aliens and
negroes, set up over them as saw this
government, supported as it was by
military power, subScrvicnt to mill.
tary rule. They held it in contcmpt !.
rms injury to the reverence and
regard for civil government has
been incalculablc. White men would
not bring themselves to appeal for
Justice to- negro Judges and negro
Jurles. They dsdancd to speak
even to a Moses or to ask u par,
don OF Scott. They learned to take
the law into their own hands, AMI to
protect their persons and rights by The
strength OF their own right arms.
4. TIE HABIT or CARRYING WEAPONS
ON TIE pEKSON.
From and out OF tho causes TO which
W" have but brit fly referred grew the
haoIt OF carrying weapons on the per-
son. Let ne assert here what think
| can safely do. that there was no such
habit before the war. | think | can
do this, for had except 'onal opror-
tunity Of observation in this matter
II happened that was reared upon Il
farm some three miles distant from
the City of Charleston, and was ac-
custOmcd in my youth TO be riding in
and out OF the city through our suburbs
at all times CT the nights on horse
back or in buggy, through the woods
which then extended down bclo" thc
present city limits, and neither my
brothers nor myself, nor our ncighb0rs,
ever went armed. cannot recall that
IN ali my youth / ever SAW Il gentle,
man With Il pistol upon his person.
There were no hip pockets in those
days for carrying pistols. Though &C
customed from my boyhood TO tho use
OF gun and riile | never saw a pistol il
my 1athcr's house, except an old single
barrcl--a relic o. former timos-w
was mover loaded. Pistols were, nc
doubt, worn during the Modification
excitement, but that was in d time OF
political turmoil, q tune not unlike the
days of 1876, when our people rose and
Overtlrew the Radical Government,
with which we hal hcen cursed ] au!
not now discussing the carryin. OF
pistols in such emergencies, though !
did not carry one myself except while
on duty in the rifle clubs during actual
riOts. But is it not time now for our
people to leave them on?
The resolutions adopted by the State
Press Association, al New berry, in
May last, strike the keynote of this
matter whom they say: +,
Resolved, That this Association re-
cognizes that it is not the unfortunate
Individuals who became involved 'n
the fatal allrays, SO common, who are
SO much to blame as public opinion
which not only sanctions acts nf
violence, but is in Il great measure re.
sl0rsibic for their commission.
1t is public opinion that is response
bic for the prevalence OF this crime.
IL Permits the ralrying OF concealed
weapons, and justiiies, # it does not
demand, their use in resentment OF
insult. If VIC wOulG eradicate the
crime Of manslaughter VIC must fist
attack this wrctchud custom.