The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-07-05
Ghf Wlessrngrr.
ATTACK ON DIR. BRoUGHToN.

They are having a lively time down
IN Albany, Ga. over the charges made
from the pulpit by Rev. /. G. Broughton
against Mr.. Westbrook, the chief of po-
lice of that city and the assault of the
latter upon that preacher. 1t ook as
If We have not had the last of the at
fair. The city is divided and excite
ment is great.
While We are too far away from the
scene OF action and the accounts of
the affair as sent out by the press are
incomplete to justify taking n
side or the other in the affair IL we
were sufficiently interested to do so,
still We think some wholesome lessons
a be drawn from this unfortunate oc-
currence. In the first place, ii seems.
from the account of what took place in
the partnership on Monday. as reported
to The Atlanta Constitution. hat the
carrying a concealed weapon. One
statement was that he had a pistol and
attempted to use it. Another was that
while using with one hand a huge
cuspidor as a weapon of defense, he
kept the other hand in his pocket. II
Mr.. Broughton was armed with a pis-
toll he was violating the law. He had
no right to go upon the streets of that
town with a deadly weapon concealed
about his person. In the next place We
do not think the pulpit is the place from
which to attempt to correct such abuses
of the law as those charged against the
chief OF police by Mr.. Broughton. If
AIR. Broughton had in his possession
Information which proved that Mr..
Westbrook was not a fit person to hold
taken his information and his proof
before the proper authorities and there
made his charges if his object was to
have him removed from office. That
would have been just as effective as
proclaiming them from the pulpit, and
at the same time would have given the
accused an opportunity to defend him.
self against these charges. The man
who takes the pulpit for hurting per-
sonal denunciations at his fellow man
has greatly the advantage of the party
he assails. The sanctity of his calling
and of the place from which he hurls
his denunciations throws around him
the protection of public sentiment which
puts the other man greatly to the dis
advantage.
We are sorry to say that in the pres
ent day there has sprung up a class Of
preachers who recognize this fact and
TAX advantage Of it.
We say that if Mr.. Broughton knew
that Chief Westbrook was the man he
from the pulpit declared him to be, he
should have laid his information before
the proper authorities.
What foundation Mr.. Broughton had
for his charges Eve know not, and it is
immaterial from our point of view.
The pulpit was not the proper place
to maxi the personal charges. Preach
ers are human. They are often carried
away by their enthusiasm in the cause
they advocate. 'Th~- make mistakes.
These sensational preachers some times
make charges which are based only on
hearsay and are withou foundation.
If such charges are against the person
al character of any one, still, notwith-
standing their falsity, tine party accus-
ed is greatly at a disadvantage. He
can not reply under same conditions as
the charges are made. He has no re-
dress. If he attacks his defamer he
arouses a public sentiment against him
for attacking a man of peace. What
then can he do? Preachers knowing
they have this advantage should be
most careful how they use it.
case if the account Of what occurred is
correct, Chief Westbrook made a cow
ardly attack or Mr.. Broughton. He at
tackled him without warning and while
he was seated and before he was aware
of the presence of his assailant.
We hope it can be proven hat Mr..
Broughton was not armed with a pistol.
We hope this for two reasons. In the
first place. it indicates consciousness
of weakness Of his cause, and in the
second place it is setting d very bad ex-
ample to others who look up to the
ministers of the gospel for guidance in
their conduct as we'll as by precept.
1t will be a bad day for our country
when h members of the gospel take
to going around with deadly weapons.
Only a short while back the country
was mortified at the conduct of two
Baptist preachers who while on their
way to the general convention of their
church got into ar alteration ON a
train and had an impromptu duel
with pistols which they had handy in
their hip pockets.
While Mr.. Westbrook may a " had
great ~provocation from MIR. Broughton
and while we do not approve of such