ChroniclesrnA M A G A Z I N E OF A M E R I C A N C U L T U RErn1 POUCEUMEPOWOTCBOSSrn^m J ^5rnPERSPECTIVErnPlaying God, or Being Men?rnby ITiomas FlemingrnPrivate justice.rn10rnVIEWS VITAL SIGNSrnCeltic Justice by Michael Hill 13rnOur own strong arm.rnRuritanian Revenge and Reality by Barry Baldwin 16rnThe blood feud lives on.rnArms, Violence, and the State by Jeremy Black 19rnA historical perspective.rnOPINIONSrnCRIME: Burglary and the Armed Homesteadrnby David Kopelrn36rnThe Myth of American Isolationismrnby Paul GottfriedrnWalter A. McDougall: Promised Land, Crusader State:rnThe American Encounter With the World Since 1776.rnSome much-needed truth-telling.rnREVIEWSrnChilton Williamson, Jr., recommends Nearer,rnMy God: An Autobiography of Faith by WilliamrnF. Buckley, Jr. ••• Glenn Wallach draws on a richrnvariety of sources for Obedient Sons: The Discourse ofrnYouth and Generations in American Culture, 1630-1860,rnwrites Philip Jenkins ••• The Great AmericanrnGun Debate: Essays on Firearms and Violencernby Don B. Kates, Jr., and Gary Kleck brings therndebate into the 90’s with startling new research,rnreports Harry Hogan ••• David A. Bovenizer hasrnhigh praise for Nashville 1864: The Dying of Lightrnby Madison Jones ••• Gregory McNameernfollows Mike Bryan’s four-lane path in Uneasy Rider:rnThe Interstate Way of Knowledge • •rnCORRESPONDENCErn22rn24rnLetter From Grenada: Revenge of the Cat 32rnby Geoffrey WagnerrnLetter From Rockford: How the Little Guys Won 3 3rnby Frank SchierrnHISTORY: Switzerland and Its Armed Citizenry 38rnby Stephen P. HalbrookrnREGIONALISM: The Whiskey Boys and Their Fight 40rnby Ralph R. ReilandrnFOREIGN AFFAIRS: Commies in D.C.-Again 42rnby Lawrence B. SulcrnPOLITICS: The Yugoslav God That Failed 43rnby Alex N. DragnichrnMUSIC: Merle Haggard and the Culture War 45rnby Clark StooksburyrnMANNERS: Courtesy 47rnby Joyce BennettrnDEPARTMENTSrnPOLEMICS & EXCHANGES 4rnCULTURAL REVOLUTIONS 6rnPRINCIPALITIES & POWERS 30rnThe New Shape of American Politicsrnby Samuel FrancisrnTHE HUNDREDTH MERIDMN 49rnMexico Wayrnby Chilton Williamson, Jr.rnPOETRYrnThe Man in Camouflage (E & E) and 12rnLasf Refuge of the White Man by Collie H. Owens 26rnON THE COVERrnCover and inside illustrations by Igor Kopelnitsky.rnJANUARY 1998/3rnrnrn