Lawlessness and the McFarland Murder Case
A prevalent feeling of lawlessness comes to light in the disposition that is manifested to quite an extent, by public men as well as private, in the McFarland murder case. Many are disposed to justify him, on the ground that a man has a right to take summary vengeance, regardless of law, on a person who steps between him and his wife. Even some of the clergy openly advocate this doctrine. “The Rev. Mr. Hepworth,” Unitarian, of New York, says that instead of the patriotic motto, “The man that tears down the American flag, shoot him on the spot,” the American people will henceforth adopt this: “The man, whoever he is, or whatever his motive, who dares to step between man and wife, let him die the death.” And this he pronounces “a right royal verdict.” Upon this, the Detroit Post administers to Mr. Hepworth a severe rebuke for his pulpiteering in favor of violence and anarchy. Who will define the moral status of the clergy, or point out the relation which they and the world sustain to each other, when a secular paper finds it necessary to rebuke a professed minister of the gospel for the low standard of his morality?