The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1911-12-02
United States Leads in Murders.

United States Leads in Murders.
AS the Atlanta Constitution ea-
presses it "the United States IS blood
crowned among nations" The Con-
stitution goes on to say that "in this
twentieth century Of civilization and
enlightenment, we lead the entire
world in the murder-rate-unpunish-
ed murders, at that" We have be-
fore noted the evil distinction and
analyzed it's cause-futile technical
lities, fragrant miscarriage Of justice.
wanton abuse of the pardoning power
archaic judicial procedure. But not
in recent months have we seen the
indictment more scathingly present
ed than in the latest issue of Golfers s
Weekly by Carl Snyder.
Mr.. Snyder shows that in the Unit
ed States the annual murder rate is
seventy to eighty per million. In
Italy it is less than fifteen per million
In Canada, less than thirteen per mill
lion. In Germany. less than five
per million. In Great Britain, less
than nine per million. Mr.. Snyder
estimates that in the United States
not one murderer In ten ever sees
the inside of the penitentiary. From
these figures he deduces the follow
ing amazing ineitement to and i'm
munity from the consequences Of
murder extended people by lax ad-
ministration Of law in this country
If you commit a murder, it is a
better than 8 to I shot that you will
never be brought to trial.
It is better than 10 to1 shot that
you will never be sentenced to the
penitentiary.
It Is a better than 80 to ! shot
that you will never be hanged or
electrocuted
Mr. Snyder quotes so high an au-
thority as President Taft as saying
that eur enforcement Of criminal law
is a disgrace to civilization" He
epitomizes the contributing causes,
showing that 1t Is probable In the
case Of the tyranny OF technicality
Missouri probably leads, since the
supreme court OF that state remand
ed a murder conviction for the quib-
bling reason that a"the" was miss
ing. from the Indictment!
Not the Italian atrocities In Trip
oil, not the Armenian massacres in
Turkey, not the slaughter in the Chi
nese revolution, not even the mur-
derous license of the jungle-age ov-
er-tops this red record. For Ameri-
cas-, supremacy in human butchery
among nations is condoled by the
shadow Of law, and that in a nation
pretending to the highest standards
Of civilization and Christianity.
The Constitution says "the remedy
for this elevation 10 international in
fanny lies in public sentiment. Sense
less technicality must be stricken and
cases tried on their merits. Prec-
edent and procedure that shield the
murderer and strike at society must
be amended The barbarous concep-
tion that allows murderer to keep
his case In court as long as he can
pay a lawyer must be ruthlessly dis
carded. Maudlinism must be brought
into stern restraint. Abuses Of the
pardoning power, for political or 9TH
or reasons, must be effectually ,rebuk-
ed. The pistol-toter,5 the concealed
weapon fend, must be made what lie
really is-an anachronism.
'We prate Of our high achieve
ments to civilization. Until We wipe
out this bloody distinction, such
boasts will be the most terrible and
hollow Of mockeries. We have no
right to criticise butchery among saw
ages, until we abolish butchery in our
own country"