The Courier. (Genoa, Nev.) 1899-1904, 1903-05-15
Communication.

ED. COURIER: Being ever interested
in the moral and the secular welfare of
our community, and having observed,
with shame, some of the events that
have transpired therein during the last
fortnight, | trust you will allow me q
little space in the columns of your
paper in which to call attention to a
few of these facts.
1t seems to me a very deplorable
and humiliating state of affairs when
those who are forced to pass along our
streets must be subjected to the insult
and outrage of vile and abusive Ian
guage. Such, am sorry to say, is the
condition at the present time in our
city. Even the ladies can hardly pass
through the streets of Gardnerville
without being forced to listen to the
most vile, corrupt and insulting lam
guage. Almost every day must we
witness the sickening sight of drunken
men reeling about our streets, enter
ing the business houses, forcing their
way into the presence of ladies, and
without discrimination of the presence
of any, give expression to their vile
and insolent language. This is an in
suit, not only to every lady in the
community, but is and should be, an
insult to every man who has left in his
nature one spark of manhood or of
chivalry.
Furthermore, life and property are
jeopardized by the many drunken In
dams, male and female, that may be
found upon our streets. The people of
Gardnerville, though in their own
homes, are not free from the base,
despicable language of these drunken
brawls among the Indians. Why
should we, MUST we, longer submit to
these insults and outrages? Have we
no protection, no redress in law? II
50, then why are not these laws en-.
forced? If not, then be it said to our
shame, and to that of our Legislative
bodies.
Let me call attention to another fact
A young man comes here searching
for work. He becomes intoxicated,
makes an assault with deadly weapon
is at once placed under arrest and
charged with crime of no little mo-
ment. AS a result of his folly he will
no doubt, pass number of years in
confinement. This latter is, perhaps,
as it should be. | would in no case
palliate crime or shield the criminal
But, let me ask, who is the greater
criminal, the one who, maddened by
liquor and his brain crazed thereby
perpetrates a deed, or the one who
sells him the intoxicating stuff that
prepares him for such action? Surely
not the former. There are three
parties connected with the act. AS ii
ever the case in crime there may BIZ
found the innocent one who must SUI
fer for the crimes of others. The I'M
fortunate perpetrator of the deed must
pay the penalty behind the bars. Last
but not least are the associates in the
deed, those who for the sake of his
money gave to the perpetrator the in
toxicants that fitted him for such deeds.
The latter are the only ones who do
not suffer for the offense, but are pro-
tected by the law and given license to
repeat the act whenever opportunity
shall afford. We cry for justice! But
may not justice as meted out cease to
be just? ITO give every one his due''
says Cicero. Then let justice prevail.
These are only few of the outrages
that are perpetrated upon the citizens
of Gardnerville all too often. Search
for the cause and you will not have
Ear to seek. How long shall these
things be?
w. P. RANKIN.