Paragould soliphone. (Paragould, Ark.) 1918-1950, 1922-07-26
JUST A WORD OF WARNING.

JUST A WORD OF WARNING.
A wave Of crime and fragrant disre-
gard Of moral standards seems to continue
nsits violent and merciless sweep of COM
munities everywhere, in many instances
Most every community seems to be expert
encing liberal share OF it, some more than
others. At intervals conditions appear to
improve, then they grow worse. Paragould
Is no exception! We are suffering our part
Of the stigma Bad conditions, generally
speaking, may not be SO pronounced here
as at some places but there's no getting
around the fact we are having too much OF
it here. It's time we were striking bal
ance, and ascertain just where we stand.
Crimes Of most every conceivable
character continue to disturb and soil the
finer senses or fabric Of our society. Moral
disregard in many communities is running
rampant, excepting in those places where
stringent or repressive measures have been
applied. "A lack of effort to stamp out or
restrict the condition is evident, in many
instances. Comparatively few people ap-
pear inclined to take the lead in the appll-
cation Of drastic action through the proc
esses of our courts. The criminally in
clined seem to feel safe in the commission
OF neI6FlOuS Q0COS, SCClIC III SlII0OllllIS CilC
moral structure of community at will and
escape punishment through the designing
and artful defense methods as practiced in
our tribunals.
That condition Of affairs MUST stop.
1t is going to cause us intense grief and dis
tress if IT. is not stopped. 1t will continue
from bad to worse unless the better cltl-
zenship rises in substantial expression OF
its wrath and applies effective measures to
end it. There's but one terminal to con-
ditiOn Of sin and that's disaster. Bitter
grief!
During the past four or five years our
social standards everywhere have been
dragged and submerged in the mire of
moral depravity. Never in the history of
the nation has the equal. of such a condi-
ton existed. It's appalling! Very few,
if any, communities have escaped it! Para
gould has had, and is having, liberal por-
ton Of it! It's course that will, as sure
as fate, wreck every institution for good
we have unless it is checked. There is no
escaping the penalty! It is literally un-
dermining our very social life. The longer
we defer the application of obstructive
measures to that course the more intense
and deeper rooted, and the more wide
spread, It will become and the more diff
will lead to murder and riots.
There is but one climax to an intoler
able condition in our social life, and that's
an outbreak Riots are invariably the re-
suit! We can't afford that! The ire of
an outraged, Observation-Disclosures citi-
zenship, thoroughly aroused, is like pow
der magazine. spark will explode it.
If we are not watchful the spark will be
applied! Then the explosion!
It is not necessary to enumerate the
variety of the acts of lawlessness or the
character of moral depravity that are be-
ing SO literally and brazenly INDUCED in.
Everyone knows of them! The citizens
have been exceedingly patient Whether
it be manifest disregard of our state
or national laws, Or whether it be the out
rageous practice of licentious characters
who may decoy women and girls into a
cesspool of sin and disgrace, it doesn't mat
ter. The brakes must be applied.
1t has been reported that reputable
citizens from the rural districts complain
about how black-leg- vipers from the city
carry on in the country, relating terrible
incidents. The stiffness of the night is
often broken by the frantic screams of
women and girl victims. If we do not
put forth supreme effort to smash such
practices to put an end to such condi-
ton, the sins Of it all will be upon our own
heads. We can't escape the responsibility.
It's within the power Of the better citizens
to either stop or minimize that condition.
There must be at least an ending to
the practice Of fragrant disregard for the
sacredness Of the social standard upon