The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-09-29
EVILS or A BAD 1xAMpLE.

EVILS OF A BAD EXAMPLE. Not to do The Chattanooga Times any
 injustice we copy on this page an edi- torial from it's Sunday issue. on the much ] discussed subject of the Presidential loaded pistol pocket. and we do this be- cause of the somewhat singular argu- ment that Rooseveit's greatest offending lay in the fact that he was caught. True. The Times speaks of 1t in kind of bant- ering way, but the spirit of its editorial is a defense of the act so much com mented on and almost universally con- demned. If this were an "argumentum ad ignorantiam" on the part of The Times. it would be excusable, but that paper is not ignorant of the circum- stances
 We have heretofore alluded to a law, which was once in force among the Spar tans. which held that it was commend able to steal but criminal to be caught at 1t. That is the spirit of the defense set up by The Times. whether in dead earnest or in spirit of jocularity, mat ters little That paper. in common with all other influential papers in the coun- try, Is continually and properly denounc- ing pistol toters." condemning the prac- tice and calling for rigid enforcement of the law. And one of the points always made in these criticisms Is that the man who carries a concealed weapon not only violates the law but sets an evil example for young men which they are sure to follow.
 Suppose The Times. in its future re- marks about the pistol habit, uses an .ar- gument something like this: There Is nothing wrong in carrying pistol in your hip pocket, young man. if you will let anybody see it you are doing a very naughty thing" Would our contempo- rary stand for such an argument as this? and would its law-abiding patrons en- dorse it? Yet that is precisely the view that will be taken of its comments Per haps it will say that 1t was only indulg- ing in a little badinage, but that Is not the spirit in which the editorial will be read by that portion of its readers most likely to follow its counsels
 Nor do we think The Charlotte Observer has added any strength to the Presidents position. If he would talk less about the majesty of the law he would not lay himself so open to criticism. If he had publicly proclaimed that he thought 1t necessary and right to carry a pistol be- cause threats had been made against his life he would at least have relieved him. self of the opprobrium of carrying con- cealed weapons. because all would have been put on notice that he was always ''heeled," as the phrase is.
 Nor do we admit any weight in the ar- gument of The Observer that "toting" a gun" is really a protection. That might do among people who hold that a man should always be ready to shoot, and where a mans life may depend on his ability to shoot first, but that is no ar gument in this case. We may see some force in The Observers argument if it
 will point out one case where President. King or other high official has been
 assassinated and in which pistol in the victim's pocket would have been a pre- ventive or protection. 1t will hardly | claim that Lincoln, Garfield and McKin- ley could have saved themselves from the
 assassin's bullet by having pistols in their | hip pockets. and we do not recall any
 other case where the result might have been different if the selected victim had
 been armed. To our way of thinking the | President Is really offering a dare to as- sassins.
 And. finally, not to extend the discus sion. we repeat that the example set by | the President cannot be otherwise than bad, especially on the youth of the coun- | try. Suppose some stray breeze should | disarrange the caudal appendage of the | esteemed Times editors coat and expose to the youth of Chattanooga a serviceable | H-caliber snugly lying in wait for pos | sible emergencies: would not all its well written editorials against pistol toters be knocked into innocuous desuetude? Yer | fly would they. for the aforesaid youth would point to the gun and shout: He wants us sent to the pen for carrying d gun. while he carries one himself: he's | no good" And would the editor have any
 reply ready for the keen-witted boy? Old Phaedrus tells us that Every one is bound to bear patiently the results of
 his own example," and Dr. Samuel John-
 son declared that example Is always more eff1cacious than precept." Lastly,
 we quote from another old Roman phil osopher and poet, Terence. who said of another: T bid him look into the lives of men as though into a mirror. and
 from others to take an example for him.
 self" Does not The Times see the point? 
 The Mobile Item intimates that The Ad- vertiser will join the first flock of wild gese going South, but 1t is mistaken
 There are plenty of geese on the Gulf Coast already.
 Roosevelt is trying very hard to get into Cleveland's class as to size. He cant get into 1t any other way.
 If Langley will hurry up and perfect