The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1919-07-17
An Epidemic in South Carolina
THE Perfect LaxatlVe

----o
been so common in South Carolina in
the last two or three months are
manifestations of state of mind
following war. When the strain of a
great war ends, disorder here and
there always are a sequel.
In some parts of the United States
the disorders are of a different kind
from those in the South, but every
where the spirit of lawlessness
breaks forth. On the surface is moth
ing in common between an outbreak
of the "Reds" in New Jersey or Cali
forria and a lynching in Georgia,
but in fact the cause of them are
nearly akin. A group of reckless and
violert men, bent on mischief, rebel
against all law, call themselves 81.
w. W." and, making resentment
against the social and political order
their excuse, throw bombs and COM
nit other outrages. Another group,
excited and thirsting for blood, per-
suade themselves that the law is
failure in dealing with certain crimes
and so they hang a negro. The "Red"
in Paterson imagines that the laws
for the protection of property are un-
fair. The lyncher in Vicksburg Is
sure that unless he makes and exc
cutes law, his neighborhood will be
unsafe for women to live in. Both
are the enemies of law and civiliza-
ton; both would destroy them.
The Industrious, honest, rational
people of the United States are the
great majority. They know that, IN
the long run, order will survive, that
life and property will be protected,
that this country will not be aban-
doned to bloody revolution. So sure
of this are they that they look on
passively at the crimes that are COM
mitted and, absorbed in their usuai
pursuits, rely on the agencies OF the
government to suppress disorders
Conscious that the great mass OF the
people are without sympathy for the
"Reds", for the lynchers or for the
brawlers and gun-fghters, they give
little attention to the crimes that are
done.
Is this the righteous or the eNpe
dent attitude of the people-of th'
majority? Would it not be wise TO-
the majority to make its influence
felt? it has agencies through which
if NAV act. When an epidemic Of in
fIuenza threatens, the public take
thought and acts, too. The presenc
OF the disease is recognized an
measures are adopted to check IT
ravages.
South Carolina is suffering troi
an epidemic of homicide. Dozen 9
men have been killed-useleSsly an
wastefully killed. That one or anotf
or homicide was in self-defense doe
not blot out the truth that some or
has participated in crime that CO..
life.
AS it is the business of the phys
clan faithfully bravely and with a
his energy to oppose an epidemic
typhoid, so it is the business OF II
juries and the judge to oppose al
stamp out an epidemic of man-sla
ing. Will you do their duty? orw
they forget that, whenever a m;
raises violent hand against anot
er, he attacks the peace and the saf
tv of the community?
When men arm themselves
fight their enemies, it is a short st
to the killing of men who are n
their enemies. When murder com
to be a community habit, no man
safe.
Through the churches, through t
press, through public meeting
through all the other agencies
hand, the majority of the peoI
should assert themselves and put
end to the epidemic of man-slayi
and other crimes of violence.-C'
.umbia State.