The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1904-06-08

As people, Q civilized people, g
Christian people, we are confronted
bv condition, not theory" A con-
dition SO appalling that lawful is
the only word which may adequately
eypress it. 1t is not the purpose of
this article to enter upon wholesale
depunciation. That can do no good,
not even arouse the innocent, much
less awaken to sense Of repentance
tbose-whoever they may be-who
are not Innocent. The writer, in
common with large number of our
people, does most sincerely deplore
the many facts, Of every degree,
which bear witness to the world that
human life is held in light esteem.
That this sentiment should so large
" prevail in South Carolina iis a
fact for which one can scarcely ac-
count.
The records Of our courts show that
punishment for theft is much more
frequent than is punishment for the
crime Of murder, or of the various de.
grees of homicide. What is the cause?
A false idea Of the sacredness Of hu-
man life, and Of the quality Of mercy.
False, in thet the life Of the murderer
is more highly regarded than the life
Of the murdered. Shall man be more
merciful than God? Is man wiser
than God? The position sustained by
many men gives on affirmative to both
questions.
Homicide and murder nave become
so frequent that the enormity Of the
crime does not seem to make any i'm
preston either upon the slayer or
upon the people. Let US see if this
enormity can be made to appear. It
is crime committed against the
State. Her fair name ia hesmivched.
Her glorious fame 10 obscured by the
smoke OF the all.too-nimble pistol.
Her grand character is lowered into
the dust. It is crime committed
against man. He is robbed Of time,
Of opportunity, Of earthly happiness,
and, in many instances Of future hap.
piness. His family, his friends,
often his country, each and all are
robbed. A life may be shining like o
star Of the first magnitude, beacon
light for the guidance Of many 9
storm tossed sailor. And yet that
brilliant beacon may be extinguished
in an instant by bullet sent hurtliug
on its mission Of death by the hand OF
an enemy.
1t is crime committed against
God. ''In the image Of God made he
/ man." A blow in tho face is an in.
suit to the dignity Of q man. How
much more is blow in Gods face an
Insult to his dignity! Every blow
simed at man, contrary to the Divine
/ warrant, is also . blow aimed at God.
When the punishment, which God
has prescribed for murder, is with
aheld that also becomes blov aimed
at God. Thus we end three powerful
! motives which should impel us in the
right direction: Patriotism, fraternity
1 and reverence.
As . people, we are between scylla
and Charybdis.- The only escape is to
3s!ser ssrisat foF the point Of; duty
teach the eacredness Of human life.
aWhat agencies are available for this
Jteaching? Four are named. Each
has done something. Yet each has
,lso been more sor less negligent.
aPareuts, ,sthe psdagogue, the press, sthe
pulpit. The primal responsibility
rests upon the parents. God has so
ordained .it. The pedagogue-lead-
ing. guiding q. boy, 10 the second Link
asf his chain Of agencies. Our schools
may, and should, not only strengthen
aind sustain the co7rect teaching Of
3she home, but should sendes7or 20
:isonn.s.act any wrong homs-4 4saShibg
shioh may display itself in the school
room or on the play ground. The
press must needs take no nncertain
Position. Many papers arc outspoken
Pad fearleas. Every paper should lend
- sssLs. y