Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1903-10-23
Election Tuesday. November 3rd.
TEARS FLOWED LIKE RAIN.

TEARS FLOWED LIKE RAIN.
1t is painful to behold the righteous
indignation of much of the press
throughout the country over the &C
Quittal of ex Lieut.. Gov. James Till
man of South Carolina, in the trial
just ended for killing Mr.. Gonzales,
editor of the State. Lest some have
become hazy touching the occurrence
we will state in brief that some months
ago in Columbia, s. c., Mr.. Tillman
shot and killed Mr.. Gonzales. The
killing grew out Of politics. Gonzales
had denounced Tillman through the
columns of his newspaper, the State,
in all known terms, decent and indie
cent, for a long time. Everybody but
Gonzales seemed to know that this
meant the death OF one Or both of the
parties. The first time they met after
Mr.. Tillman's term OF Office expired
Tillman drew a pistol and shot Con
zales, killing him in short time. Only
one shot was fired. Itturned out after
the shooting that Gonzales was not
carrying his gun that day. The trial
ended Thursday of last week with a
verdict of mot Guilty. This was no
surprise. Every body knew just as
we'll after the evidence was in that
Tillman would be acquitted as they did
that there would be gun practice as
soon as Tillman and Gonzales met
But now that the inevitable in both
instances has happened-there Is e
groan in certain quarters we'll nigh
calculated to break the human heart.
We notice that such papers as the Phi
adelphia Enquirer, Press, Record,
Public Ledger, and many Others OF
that pure and guileless city. the New
York Mail and Express, Herald,
Times, Evening Post, Commercial Ad-
vertlser, and even the World. have
damned the jury and State, have wept
and walled over the verdict, aud Ia
menteo over the moral conditions in
South Carolina. These conditions are
sad, Sodom and Gomorrah were no
worse. another earthquake is now
hourly expected, and this time not a
vestige will be left, and 1.-THE smoke OF
the burning will 60 up as the smoke
Of a furnaDce." Here as Lots, yes lots
Of Lots, who are locking not behind
them, nor staying i'll the plain, but are
fleeing to the mountain lest they be
consumed. For week past we have
read such moral gush as
Now, get your gun.
South Carolina has seeded again
from law and justice this time.
Only an arrant coward would imag-
Inc that a unarmed and unthreatening
man was about to kill him.
The verdict is practically an invita-
ton to the clan Gonzales to institute
feud with the clan Tillman.
1t was assassination. And it is
the assassin that South Carolina jury
has hidden 60 free as an innocent man
of all offense.
That the perpetrator of a crime so
brutal and 80 cOwardly should be stuff
cred to 60 scot free affords a painful
commentary upon Southern morals.
1t is difficult to escape the conclu-
sion that the verdict dealt blow not
n tho Nv o. ho
the safety OF human life in South
Carolina.
The verdict of acquittal is as indie
fenSible as the plea was hollow and is
we'll calculated to bring reproach upon
the community where it was rendered
as well as upon the jury.
The blow which the State of South
Carolina has delivered to the liberty of
the press will cost her dearly long after
the shame Of the Lexington verdict is
forgotten.
1t is charged that human life is cheap
at the South. The turning loose OF
James II. Tillman upon the society
which he had outraged will confirm in
the minds OF many this unfortunate
impression.
Were there truly enlightened pub
lie sentiment in the South we might
hope that the failure of the Jury 20 do
justice would at least result il social
Ostracism which would drive the blood
stained Tillman from the State,
The final standard by which every
community must be measured is the
attitude of its juries toward the laws
and toward human life. Judged by
that simple rule, the acquittal of Till
man is the conviction of South Carroll
ma as barbarOus Commonwealth.
disgrace to American civilization.
The shooting itself and the trial
throw strong light on the social con
ditions which prevail in some parts Of |
the South, where the dueling spirit |
still survives. personal feuds are set
tied without regard to law, and lynch. |
ing is commended by some Of 1.-THE best |
people"
When atrocious murder is done g
grasp of horror comes from the respec- i
liability and conservatism of the State
horror as strong and profund as is