Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1870-02-01
Theory VS.. Practice-I.aw.mekine and
Law-breaking.

properly managed will turn out some
very good work this winter. Poor
abused body Whereunto shall we
liken it? According to the standard
simile it is vast grindstope thsckly
covered with axes held by hungry
men, with host of others in the rear
crowding for a CHARGE There is
squabbling for places and The lhcky
ones get their apparel bcspottad in
the strife, but no ore minds tfat if
tho ak is only ground. again, we
will liken IL unto young man try
ing to teach district school, while
the people who chose him to do
the work arc raising objections TO
whatever he does do, telling him of a
hundred things he ought 10 do, and
threatening that unless he does bet
ter, he will not be hired another
winter. The legislature is no qoub,
an able body of able-bodied men ;
but it stands forth as a mari for
much criticism and abuse, FOR this
reason we have 80 many able men
that not halt of them can be sent to
the capitol at time. Tho remain
ing portion Of the country, therefore,
has to undertake tho nnremunera alive
task Of directing the select few. who
draw pay at Madison. And it is to
this unpaid branch Of the legislative
power that editors belong. Means
arc being devised to provide this
class employment that will pay %hem
better and keep them from distract
ing the Legislature with their v9lun-
toored aid, If a host ofpetty Offices,
such as Town SuperintendGncie4 and
County Supervisors. were created.
there might be relief.
Seriously, it is we'll TO inquire if
the law-making business has not
been overdone, SO that there are
more laws on cur hands thar we
know how to use. The letter Of
Luther Brown last week ia o good
indication Of the sober public feeling
and points towards biennial sessions
as remedy. The constant practice
Of experimenting on the, diseased
body polite by enacting and repeal.
inc ia tho coprso;Ouo vnopWao &c.
seen can never effect cure, BIT we
consider Mr.. Browns illustration OF
the size Of carriage wheels being reg
ulated by law as quite inapplihable
to his subject, because no mar can
be injured or aggrieved by bis neigh
bors using a different size or model
hence no wrong being done there
could be no occasion for law. But
when our neighbors insist on keeping
a troop Of worthless and iIresponsi-
BILE ours that Brighten and bites our
children and commit larceny and
sheep slaughter among our fldcks,
then there is wrong done by auch
dog-owners, and there is propriety
in the idea of protecting the farmers
in their honest business.
Although we agree in many points
with those who frequently admins
ter scorching Iebukes TO our lSgis-
ators although we DO not like tes
man sent there to work for the Aeo-
plo and paid by the people, who are
base enough to sell out to RAILROAD
companies and help Cypress their CON
stituents; although we would Hk; to
expose every sort OF corruption ind
defeat every wrong measure; yet we
dc not think the Legislature il t. be
blamed for every failure that has
been discovered on our statutes, and
We feel like laying large shar', of
the responsibility of these failures on
the shoulders of the peopls thAm-
selves. Our lawmakers do not make
laws until the constituency demand
them to reform some abuse. Hav-
ing framed law to the best of their
ability it is handed back to the peo-
pie to execute. But, if there is any
thing difficult or disagreeable in It's
practical enforcement, it's strongest
supporters will shirk all RESPONSE
bility, turn their backs on the whole
project and leave it to enforce Itself,
making it q dead letter. Then,
clamor is raised about the inopeFa-
tive law which the public thonghtIso
wise year or two before il has to
60 through that series Of amepd-
marts, re-enactments and repeals IN
the vain effort to cause it TO work
better In many Of these cases the
fault is is not in cur public servanss
who made the law it is not in tle
principle of reform attempted, nor in
the drafting Of tho bill it is. in tl4e
laUless spirit that rules tho people
and makes them look on It's violation
az matter Of no consequence.
The great problem that perplexss
all visionary and foolish inventorsis
to contrive machine that will! make
and furnish its own motive power.
This is an apt illustration Of the ef-
forts Of those who devote so much
labor and inventive genius 10 TIE
perfecting Of our revised statutes 10
the vain hope that when the laws
read about right they will govern the
State without needing any Of tho
tirssome and unpleasant duties Of
Constables and Justices. What
benefit would be conferred on the
State if all were equally aware of the
fact that to insure good government
we must have fearless and infexible
enforcement of sll the rules of our
statutes, and that every one who
helps to cheat justice of its due
is helping to increase lawlessness and
misrule Nations are classified as
barbarous or civilized according to
their progress in the science of govl
ernme nt and the administration OF
justice. That, at least, is one inn
portant criterion Of enlightenment,
1t is this disrespcot for the law Of
the land that has made the reouta