Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1905-02-10
HALT THE YOUNG BUCKS.


determined to enforce the law against
carrying weapons, and his example
In this particular instance, as in
mahy others, might be followed
. throughout our cities and counties
Ito the betterment of law and order.
He does not snake an example" of
/. any particular color, but during the
recent holidays the black and tan
and mongrel seem to have been in the
preponderance. Almost without ex-
ception he summsrily sentenced
pistol toters and dirk carriers to Jail,
and usually added good fines.
Occasionally we hear of the doings
in localities of lawless gangs of
young "bucks"-"young hellions,"
as inelegantly described by those
annoyed--who make peaceable citi-
Eens see sights by day as we'll as by
night, and at times verging upon
insults to ladies. Some members of
such gang we're recently convicted
by the Commonwealth for rioting at
a colored church in the vicinity of
Mt. Jean, or Christ Church, in this
county, but the lesson does not seem
to have impressed them much. With
them is occasionally to be found a
hocdlum coming from another To-
cality.
We have taken occasion in times
past to compliment the Afro-Ameri-
cans of Lancaster upon their general
good department as compared to the
conduct of their race in other parts;
and as a rule this still holds good,
but is more applicable to the older
negroes. It is the duty of this law
abiding class to bestir themselves
before it is too late to see that the
youthful desperadoes are brought to
n short halt. Otherwise there may
be short halters for some of the race,
snd>innocent ones may suffer with
the guilty. We have but to recall
the scenes enacted in April of some
years back near Barnett's store, when
a few cool-headed whites prevented
summary dealings with persons who
were afterwards found to have had
no part in cowardly murder. In
such gangs as above described q
pistol or big knife might be found
upon every parsonage, and, in open
contempt for the law, while louug-
Ing around stores, such retorts as
this are said to frequently pass
between them-"I'll cut you;" or
"I'll Put a bullet through you !"
Again, We say, unless the older heads
OF the negroes take some steps to
suppress this racial outlawry, whole
community may be put under sur
veillance and probably come to grief.
Owing to measure of contempt
for our laws-to some extent we'll
founded-thrests to shoot, actual
shootings and even cold blooded
murders have become quite the thing
with certain vicious people. The
farcical punishment melted out in the
past has not only produced such con-
tempt among better class of citi-
zens but has imbued the lawless
spirit with the idea that few dollars
would clear him, and he could revel
in the reputation of having skilled
his man." But worse still, it has
sown seed for that most deplorable
feeling-that the law ia inadequate
and that the people must take the
law into their own hands. We have
ever been against lynch law (save
and alone for one crime, and then
only when the mazes of the law may
foreshadow incompetency or distort-
ing by technicalities or intrigue),
"and would suggest to our people not
to let morbid encouragement have
sway. But above all, we would ap-
peal to the better class Id every COM
munity to use their efforts to bring
Offenders to justice, and to magis-
Srates, lawyers, juries and court to
see that these vicious proclivities are
eradicated by melting out adequate
punishment. OF late a happy solution
to many Of our difficulties has been
found by having only competent, able
and reputable men upon our juries;
and this lends optimism to present
lenses.
HOW THEORISTS WOULD DO 1T.
1t is most amusing to read the