, 1873-10-12
"LAW AND ORDER" IN CHICAGO,

"A%A' ~ ~ ~~ShAbJ3 AA rNsAFV Ao1AH1A ~ LAo
Committee of sovonty, publishes, in tho curront
number Of tho Lakeside 1ontly devoted to the
~.omphlcation Of local characteristics, paper
on Law nnd Ordor in Chicago. Tho paper
Ia important at this time, for two roasons:
~ because It defines tho character md
purposes Of the Luw-ana~ Order movement, as
conceived by it's leaders; and (2) bocauso 1t
affords fair opportunity to determine whether
it ia necessary or desirable TINT tho Committee
Of Seventy, representing the Law-and-Or
movement, should havo partisan organization
in the coming municipal election.
It is generally believed TINT tho Committee
Of soyonty is the outgrowth Of ci.i-
zens movement innuguratod about a year
ago, with the purpose Of bringing
popu1nr pressure to boar upon the courts and
tho police for tho suppression Of crime, which,
ut that particular timo, llad been unusually ag-
groHsive and violent for 4 period Of several
weeks. Nr. Bonnoy corrccts this impression by
informing his renders that tho Citizons' Commit
tee disbauded. Tho present Committee Of Sow
cnty was appointed to represent q regular Law
aud-Ordcr society organized by meeting at tho
First Congregational Church. which mooting was
tho result Of two former meetings, ono III tho
Union Park Church. OIL tho Wost sldo, aud QUO
in plymouth Church, on the South Side, that
woro held for the purpose Of ratifying and celo-
brating tho now Liquor law. which went into
effect July 1. Tho present Law-uud- d-Ordor Or
gallization was. then, ~ Alr. Donney sayg, tho
result Of a "gonoral impulse on tho part Of tho
order-loying citizens to express tho pleasure with
which tEey behold tho advent Of new ora in
resisting the ayiIH resulting from intomper-
auce." The first great stop in this now nloye~
ment, as Mr.. Bonnoy lilewise Hays, twas tho
Chicago ure tho trucst representatives Of it's
power, its principles. ita PURPOSES and ita lead-
ing men," It's polititul aim IL i,dicatod by Mr..
Douney wien ho BayB that it strives for " tho
protection Of tho sauetitY Of tho Sabbath, the
upholding Of tho public morals, and the protec-
ton Of tho good order Of society by tho police
power of the State."
Before proceeding to the question whothor it
is veil that tho Law-aud-Order association.
thus Defined should take partisan action in the
coming municipal election it ia fair to tako llr.
Dounoy's estimate Of tho governed classcs Of
Chicago as Il law-ablding people, Mr. Bonney
holds TINT tho people Of Chicago nro oasy to
govern, and, in proof Of it, points to their
good behavior during tho recent panic, to
the very few riots that hive taken place in tho
whole history of the city, notwithstanding tho
rapid growth In population aud many exciting
occasions and to the fact tint only lis out Of
$500 Bnloous failed to giyo an Immediate ad-
loroncc to tue order for closing tho saloons on
| Sunday. though tho ordinance lad not been en-
!! forced for several years. He ia also Of the
| opinion that there ia very little antagouism Of
casHca much eas in fact thau iu any other OF our
largo cities In fact, ho says tho people Of
Chicago arc tho most tolerant people in tie
world" Hc goes 30 far as to hold that tho stanl-
| ard Of public morals IL higher thau that Of any
other largo city, and pa high MS that Of most
small towns. We layo no doubt thnr compafa-
tive statistics would confirm this general assor-
tiou. or the courtB, ho eays with trutl
that there is not one among all the
Judgea of tho Circuit, Superior, and County
Courts, "whoso personal, logal, and judlcla
character is not fairly above reproach." Ht
beaes liz highest testimony to tho law-abidinG
character Of the people of Chicago when ho eayi
that their peacoable aud orderly tendencies art
| preserved rather In spite Of d bud System Of nu
ntcipaI government, with iss irresponsible
Doards, than with tho aid aud encouragement O
good syste,n md III efficient police.
1t is now serious question for tho COMMITTEE
Of Seventy to decide whether there Is not dun
ger Of disturbing tho eminontly law.abidinl
character Of tho Ohicago people, so completed
recognized by QUO OF thoir loading mombors. b.
tho introduction Of an issue into the mum
olpal election basod upon temperance an
"tls protection Of tho Hanotity Of til
Sabbath" Mr. Donney says that th
Law-autl-Orlor Association hayo beon prompto
to tale part iu the municipal campaign by til
conviction that " there Gun be no snccoasful re
action from ono extreme oxcopt to tho otlc
extreme" Tt1nt is to say, unloss tue Commltto
OF 8oyonty are numerically strong enoug
to curry out their oatsome views on til
subject Of temperance and sunday ol
ecryanoe, somo other party will carry on
extreme yiows Of THO opposite sort. II thla /
correct Wow, it becomes important to kno
whether the Committee of Seventy are reall
able 10 command majority vote for their o.
trome. Of course, opinions viii djNor q
this point till kftor tho election is Ao!
| and tho result declared. AIoauwlilo, u
haya our doubts whether the publ
aro prepared to indorae either sxtrsm1
Having now higher standard Of morality an
! mora general observance Of law ana order tha
, other cities, 81 Dir. Donnoy obserYes, is 1t VI
, 10 take tho risk Of driving OF a considerab
portion Of thoso who contribute to this hhp}
condition Of things by means Of Issues Whl