Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1903-01-23
Friday, Jan. %.
THE SOUTH CAROLINA INCIDENT.

NE SUOt n OhnUIlNh tNOtU6Nts
1.-The shooting of Editor Gonzales by
Lieut.. Gov. Tillman of South Carolina
last week, was an event much to be
deplored, but not so bad as some would
paint it. There was great provocation.
1t is thoroughly understood in the
South generally, and in South Carroll
ma particularly, that when a newspa-
per man publishes another as "a crimi-
nal candidate, "a debauchee" and
"a proven liar" he deliberately puts
himself in peril of his life 1t is no
argument against this state of facts to
say that such conditions should not
exist, they do exist, and the result is
almost inevitable. Killing under such
circumstances may be called assassi-
nation or any other name, but that
does not prevent the party whose rep
utation has been attacked, or assassi-
mated or slain, from attempting to
ASA ssinate the assassin of his reputa-
ton. Blood may be hotter in South
Carolina and Texas than in the colder
climate of Massachusetts, or even here
in Virginia, but should newspaper
man here go out of his way to thus de.
nounce many of our citizens the same
result would follow. In China We
are told that under certain conditions
a person commits suicide. 1t is Gus
tom, which, whether right or wrong,
exists. To suicide under such circum-
stances is regarded there as the right
thing to do.
We have had MANY examples in our
midst of killing brought about by al
legations against character Not
many years ago very prominent man
in this State was called to the veranda
of hotel and deliberately shot to death
by railway conductor for the alleged
reason that the person killed had un
dertaken to ujure the character of the
conductor by deleteriOus statements
to the Ry. Co. A jury found the &C
eused guilty, but learned judge, one
who had the reputation OF being one
of the fairest, ablest and wisest judges
of our State, set aside the verdict as
not warranted by the law and the evil
dence. On a second trial a jury de
clared the accused mot guilty" of any
offense and he was rather triumphant
ly acquitted.
We could elaborate greatly on cases
OF this character right here in Virgin
la, they certainly occur in many places
other than South Carolia. We won
der whether there are many who up.
hold Gonzales in the asss ultss he made |
on Mr.. Tillman? We wonder whether |
there has grown in those parts of the
country where shooting under such |
provocation is denounced, a sentiment |
which warrants the act Of Gonzales
We hope not. Certainly Gonzales
knew the man whose character he was
assaulting. He knew he was no pol
troOn nor coward, be knew whether
what he said was true or false he must
account to him for what he had said,
and as Gonzales had chosen the seclu-
sion of bis own sanctum as the place,
and his own time in which to deliber-
ately assassinate the character of Till
man, Tillman might with equal pro-
priety choose his own time to attack
Gonzales. Gonzales was unarmed we
are told. This was his misfortune. :
Common sense in a South Carolina t
editor would have first prevented him
from doing so rash thing as publish !.
such vile article But if done, GER
-ainly common sense would have told c
lin to arm himself and do it effective t
y. We must therefore conclude that :
VIVA tever virtues may be ascribed to d
GONZALES he was totally deficient in r
ordinary common sense. No one but 8
himself can be blamed for having de- =
iberately given the pretext for the b
hooting. and none but himself can be q
blamed for not being on the same foot y
ng with Tillman when the hour arriy- u =.
ID for gun practice. IN