The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-09-15

ooath CAROLINA Making Greater Adj
vassccrnent Materially \ Than in
Cvic shteousness.


2 has Impressed itself on the mind OF
! NE writer that our people are max
Inc more rapid progress In material
prosperlty and In education than we
Are In moral Improvement and II this
kbs true. and there can be no question
but that Il In. then II ought to bring
the question seriously to the attention
81 avery true citizen with the view o.
nntling some reason for II and IL there
4 be any remedy to apply 1t.
me mere fact that our state is wei
qupplitd with coiiegeo and schools
makes the condition inexcusable and
conspicuous and Is u blot upon til
fair name OF South Carolina which
~ sood citizens should do their ut
r,orA 10. rcmoyc and which must bC
removed before we can hope to enjoy
/. .ohc respect and esteem OF the people
~ other States and other coun-
triea Does any intelligent man. for
I, one moment. doubt that " tho mora
, u>ntimcnt of the people was on the
hith plane that Il ought to occupy
\ that Il would be practically impossible
70 rho desaasogue or tho politician
q oG1or for any ofIlce I'm the gift of
) NE ptople? II a man of this kind
kuew that no could not secure hear
me- and be promptly hissod down II he
attempted to speak. no simply would
no& mako the attempt and we would
soon 10 rid OF mon of his stripe, Con-
ojeiona have reached the point In our
'a(1<e whom IL o. simply idle to say that
- y Appearance ON the part of the peo-
4 pie that makes II possible for these
political tricketers to secure any fol-
lowing and take advantage o;
thls Ignorance to ride into office. Thi'
may have pasucd muster twenty-hv
er thirty years ago. but II will no,
now Tor the reason that ic they. the
nen who support these demagogues
oro iGporant they arc SO from cholc,
and not for the lack OF opportunit,
20 learn better. A great deal of tht
oo-c7IIed Ignorance Is. to speaS
p1ainly. nothias but vlciousness ans
u u tho latter against which We ha9,
70 contend and find the means for
ev<Pcomsns.
Ths low state OF public morality
Waich exists In our State does NJ
sep here. but embraces everything 4.
connection with our social and public
Iives Gould anything be more
81 roach to our people than tho mis-
erab'e way with which we enforce OF
crimirPl laws. or more strictly. the.
non-saforcement. All laws to be rig
idSy and importiai,y enforced must b
hacked ty an enlightened and elc
vstod public sentiment and here
where wo are so conspicuously lack
ms. II In not enough for cities:
IN his own person. to obey and respec
(he law. but Il In his bounden duty
ses 70 IL that others do the samc o
made 60 suffer the penalty that ough
70 follow. but which docs not In man
cases. Its violation. Let II be under
stood. once for all. that we. that
al good citizens. intend to see tn
our criminal laws arc TO be enforce,
and no one. however high his socio
position or influence. can hope to
cape II he violates any of them ar
lust as soon as we show that this T.
meant there will he n tremendous fall
Ing OF In murder and other crimes
Rssor nature. Tho governor. tn
judges and all other officers may hav
the utmost determination to enfor
rhs laws. but II they are not support,
ny nm elevated public sentiment tho
Efforts, are to q great extent In vaii
Tho writer does no. for one momer
want 60 make tho impression tn
cIemency or mitigation OF ser
tence. should never bc shown. bt
these exceptions should be few an
far between. Two. facts should.
this connection. be ever borne In min
and tney arc these. that the man VIII
violates the law Is very rarely peniter
for the net. but for tho consequcnc
of that act: tho other Is that symp"
thy for his family should not allo
him tn escape punishment. In IN
the higher his social position and H.
sroater his Intelligence ought to ad
TO the gravity Of his crime. 1t Is a
talk q out degrading him by scndir
him 10 tho pcnitentiary. for the simp'
rcsson that no has degraded hir'
s-if hy tho commission of tho crim'
We have organizations OF dlfferer