The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-03-26
TendcncIes E:ncourneInE Lawlcssneas.

To the Editor of The Times Dispatch:
Sir.-The bloody tragedy enacted ut
Hi!lsville recently, In which nearly all
of the court ofiicern OF Carroll county
lost their lives. should not for one
moment be considered closed with the
mere running down OF the outlaws uud
the melting out to them n speedy trial
and summary punishment. The sacri-
iice IS indeed too great for that. There
iorc. let US make deep analysis OF
the whole affair ana see IL we might
not nnu Il rcason--abSurd AS IL may
sccIn-Whicn prompted the perpctra-
ton OF this CHASTITY crime, when has
In II degree Stained the fair name OF
Virginia and cast II shadow OF doubt
anc suspicion upon the boosted c!viii-
ZaLon OF our country. The cause Of
TINS latest outrage against society may
be traced III Il hundred ways to many
thiuSs; nevertheless its only natural
sequel lies in the ovcrconiidencc whicn
The government rcpoScs IN its people.
as appalling as this crime may seem 10
us-quite beyond the conception OF
minds trained 10 fear the law and re-
Spect the rights OF man--ts awful
meaning does not impress itself upon
the lntellcctS OF these men, VINO have
taken the law into their own hands
and acted upon the issue according
to the promptings OF their own en-
own crude Judgment. Tho only thing
which may, perhaps. appear cXtraor-
dinary TO them is mat they took more
than tho lives OF ordinary mcn-they
killed Il judge and other officers OF the
law. Ia searching for some tangible
reason for so naErant an outburst OF
only look about him and see the ten
dency OF the times. See where the
law itself tactitly permits those tr!-
fling heterogeneous which one By one
noursh and crystalline the spirit OF
anarchy. The carrying OF concealed
weapons unconcchled contributes its
timely deaths For If no restriction he
put upon this unwisc custom q crazy
man has as much right to carry
gun as a policeman, and, being thus
armed. any ones temper m;ty get the
better of his judgment ana in mo-
ment or heated anger he may rashiy
for and repent for the rest OF his life.
The habit of carrying gun is the
greatest curse upon our civilization.
one only needs to linger moment
among a band of mon with their gilt
terinS pistols strapped 10 their hips
TO tGci that atmosphere of fcvcrlsh
suspense, spectacle that impresses
one OF band OF men moving about
with chips on their shoulders, restless
ly waiting for some one else to knock
them off, you VIII learn then how
mclodrama and the moving picture
also contribute indirectly to- our utter
undoing. Greedy promoters. in Il 1T
of sordid commercnl!sm, have dug into
the archives of ancient times all the
bloody scenes of strife and conflict ana
staged them In life and picture, for
the Ratification" OF youthful minds in
tho tender stages OF development. In
the play, hero and heroine always
eXtr.catc themselves from the strang-
est ana most unnatural plights. after
swimming m ocean or two or snuffinE
ont q dozen lives. The moving pic
lure palaces show q man with apparent
military bearing and other accoutre-
mcnts on prancirg stced. and the
people pay their good nlckels and
dimes to see such paltry trash. re-
cite these things. not that think tho