The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1899-07-15
"Observer" Makes A Suggestion.


Mr.. Editor:
The subject to which shall allude !!
a very important one, yet it seems to bt
treated with culpable indifference. al
though property and life are involved,
refer to the repeated robbery Of stores
and the frequent thieving depredatiOns
upon private residences. This town ap
pears to be regarded as safe field fol
criminal operations as proven by thu
frequent burglarizing of stores and
dwellings. IL is time some practical
means were taken to put stop to this
lawlessness, for the step from robbery
to murder is short and easy one. II
would be folly to assume that these bold
persistent thieves do not 60 equipped to
commit murder il necessary to prevent
detection or to facilitate escape il inter
ferred with in their acts of stealing
The longer action is delayed holder will
the rascals become, and every success il
an encouragement to further crime.
IL does not require two police officers
to keep order IN quiet little town like
this in the day time. Our people are not
much given to pugislistic encounters OF
to disorder Of any kind; it is true some
have been practicing the fistic art with
evil intent. but friends have always pre-
vented serious results by interfering in
the first round. At rare intervals we see
an individual in hilarious aud bolster.
Gus frame of mind. incapable Of walk.
ing a bee line, but he generally has
enough ballast to prevent upsetting OF
cOlliding against other pedestrians; and
rarer still we behold a besOttted piece
OF humanity taking a nap on a side
walk; but these occurrences are not seri-
Gus enough to require the services of two
policemen to secure public safety and
convenience. Then why not let US have
one Of the two police officers for night
duty? The mere fact of such an officer
being Oh duty would have a ieterring
effect upon evil doors. IL we cannot get
a night policemen then We should or
ganize safety committee and take
turns at watching for the midnight ma.
randers. When they get so bold as to
step over sleeping forms in lighted rooms
and pass into an adjoining room and
take therefrOm clothing and drawers
and retire to the gallery to search for
money and valuables, it is time for ac-
ton If we have any regard for our own
safety and the protection of our fami,
lies. 1t is said that self preservation is
the first law OF nature, but that law does
not seem to operate here as an actuatlng
principle; but the virtue known as re-
signation to the Divine will, Is coDspi-
cuously prominent, as exempted in
trusting to Providence for protection
While practicing that christian virtue
we should remember the old maxim,
Providence helps those who help them
selves Apathy and indifference to ras-
cality are not considered virtures by
either savage or enlightened people. Are
We going to practice the tenets of the
Stoics who taught that we should sub.
nit without complaint to the unavoida-
BILE necessity by which all things are
governed? Consequently. as a sequence
endure evils without making an effort
to overcome them?
But for the untiring energy and per-
severance of Mr.. Eugene Bertrand, who
at the expense Of money and great labor
ran down and captured a young crimi-
hal just released from Jail. we would
now be under fearful apprehension of
arson or robbery by a bold desperate
young scoundrel who only few years ago
emerged from dresses and donned bree
ches. but who has been stealing in this
town with daredevil disregard of the
laws Of both God and man. This is a
disgraceful state of affairs. Are we 90
ing to submit to it longer? Ihope not.
OBSERVER.