2742
Cleveland Morning Leader, 29 July 1864
(ed; 16 inches)
~ See original
p.1, col.2
~ View at ChronAm
2742 - L. July 29; ed: 1/2 - War is an awful remedy for curing diseases,
whether civil or foreign in character, and always brings a train of
vices, demoralizes young men, and lessens the reverence in which human
life should be held. Men used to shudder at the very thought of using
firearms; but since the war, they talk freely of using them, which is
absolutely wrong and should be punished to the full extent of the law,
whether they be soldiers or private citizens.
"In view of the growing recklessness of society, and the tendency
of returned soldiers to use arms on the least provocation; in view of
the interests of civilization, and the dignity and honor of the laws
of civilized communities, we invoke all citizens to cultivate a health-
ier public sentiment and save us from the barbarism of dirks and re-
volvers. If we are not to degenerate into a blood-thirsty race of men,
with whom life is of little consequence so long as the murderer has a
provocation, or some wealth to shield him, we must put a check to the
unlicensed use of firearms." (16)