Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1904-05-31
sAcREpNEss OF HUMAN LIFE.
If Mon Would Preserve II, They Must
Hearken to Duty.

by a condition, not a theory" A con-
dition so appalling that lawful" Is the
only word which may adequately ex-
press 1t. 1t Is not the purpose Of this
article to enter upon wholesale denun-
citation. That can do no good, not
even arouse the innocent, much less
awaken to a sense Of repentance those
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 largely prevail in South Car
olina is a fact for which one can
scarcely account.
The records of our courts show that
punishment for theft is much more fire.
quent than is punishment for the crime
of murder, or Of the various degrees
of homicide. What is the cause? A
false idea Of the sacredness Of human
life, and Of the quality Of mercy.
False, in that 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 an affirmative to both ques-
tions.
Homicide and murder have become
so frequent that the enormity OF the
crime does not seem to make any i'm
preston either upon the slayer or up
on the people. Let US see II this enor-
nifty can be made to appear. 1t ts
crime committed against the state.
Her fair name Is besmirched. Her
glorious fame is obscured by the smoke
of the all-too-nimble pistol. Her
grand character Is lowered into the
dust. It is a crime committed against
man. He is robbed Of time, of oppor-
tunity, of earthly happiness and, IN
many instances of future happiness.
His family, his friends, often his
country, each and all are robbed. A
life may be shining like q star Of the
first magnitude, a beacon light for
the guidance Of many storm tossed
sailor. And yet that brilliant beacon
may be extinguished In an instant by
bullet sent hurtling on its mission Of
death by the hand Of an enemy.
It is a crime committed against God.
I'm the image Of God made he man."
A blow in the face is an insult to the
dignity of man. How much more Is
blow in Gods face an insult to his
dignity! Every blow aimed at man,
contrary to the Divine warrant Is also
blow aimed at God. When the pun
lshment, which God has prescribed for
| murder, Is withheld that also becomes
blow aimed at God. Thus we find
three powerful motives which should
impel us in the right direction: Patriot
ism, fraternity and reverence.
AS a people, we are between Scylla
and Charybdis. The only escape Is to
steer straight for the point of duty
teach the sacredness Of human life.
What agencies are available for this
teaching? Four are named. Each has
done something. Yet each has also
been more or less negligent. Parents,
the pedagogue, the press, the pulpit.
The primal responsibility rests upon
the parents. God has so ordained 1t.
The pedagogue-leading guiding
boy, Is the second link Of this chain
of agencies. Our schools may, and
should, not only strengthen and sustain
the correct teaching Of the home, but
should endeavor to counteract any
wrong home teaching which may dis
play itself in the school room or on
the play ground. The press must
needs take no uncertain position. Many
papers are outspoken and fearless.
Every paper should lend the weight OF
it's influence until all within range OF
that influence shall be moulded into
solid mass Of opposition to all crime,
chiefly that now under discussion. the
uulpit. even more than the press,
should sustain no equivocal attitude.
Cry aloud and spare not" Is the d.
vine command. AS a minister, would
not dare unduly to shield either my
self or my brethren from criticism. l
most seriously doubt whether any one
of us has preached often enough upon
this and closely relate topics.
Let these four agencies combine
their forces in united attack upon the
evil doers and only a few years Will
be required to effect greatly needed
and greatly desired change.
There are several mediums through
| which the truth thus taught may be,
and should be, applied to make 1t ef-
fective. OF these, the chief Is that OF
public opinion. Let public opinion be
enlightened, unbiased and determined
to uphold the right. Then, speedily
will every criminal become ashamed to
show his face, at least, among right
thinking people.
Next is the medium of the courts.
Let purity impartiality and tone
Of high moral elevation, ever be
the characteristics Of our courts and a
long steD will have been taken toward