The Arizona sentinel., 1875-05-01
PRESERVE THE PEACE.

liZed community, is deeply IN
terested in the preservation Of the
peace. No reasonable man can
deny this. The security of life
and property and all the highest
interests of society, demand that
the public peace shall be main
tanned.
No matter how we'll ordered the
sentiment Of any community may
= be; no matter how deeply nine
tenths of the people may desire
that peace and good order should
prevail, yet there are always, in
every town, a sufficient number
of turbulent and restless spirits
who are only content to live in an
atmosphere of disorder aud vi0-
lence. These are the scum of So
ciety. Nothing but the strong
arm of the law can restrain them.
They have no sense of shame.
You cannot reason with them.
You might as well attempt to
reason with a dog, particularly
when they are under the infiu-
ence of liquor. Laws are made
for the purpose of protecting So
ciety from these vermin, for if
they are allowed to gounchecked.
they go FROM one degree of law
lessness to anoth er, until they
commit the most revolving crimes.
This is the nature and inevitable
course of unchecked rowdyism,
everywhere. Officers are elected,
whose dnty is to see to the pre-
servation of the peace, and unless
they are seconded by the moral
support of the good men of the
community, their task is indeed
a hard one.
Thus far our1 remarks are in.
tended for general application.
But here we propose to come
right home and speak of these
matters as they exist in Yuma.
Now we are proud to say, as we
have said before, that the rowdy
element is very small in Yuma,
and we have very few men here
who defy law and order. But
still we have some, and every
town this side Of Heaven has
some, who, if unrestrained, will
always be productive of turmoil
and disorder; men who get drunk
and quarrel and fight on. the
streets, and use vulgar aud abus-
i've language, thereby disturbing
the public peace and quiet of the
town, disgusting and shocking
ladies, and demoralizing the
young and rising generation.
Now all good men agree that this
thing must be stopped. But how
are we to stop it? We will tell
you the only way; and that is by
giving the officers of the law NOR
al support, and encouraging them
in the performance of their duty.
But when an officer arrests man
for disorderly conduct, how often
do we hear such expressions as
these: "PoOr fellow, he should
not have been arrested for that
little thing; the officer was too
fast, he wants so make a fee,'
etc., etc. Now, we say that all
such language is wrong and hurt
full to the public peace and the
public morals, because it tends to
discourage the officers in the dis
charge of their duties. All good
citizens should encourage the Of
ficers in arresting and bringing
to punishment all rowdies and all
men who willfulIy defy the law,
and disturb the public peace.
The safety of life and property
at home and the good name OF
our town abroad, demand the firm
and faithful administration of the
law. Think of these things, citi-
. zens, and when man is arrested
for a breach of the peace, do not
Join in with the thoughtless rab-
BILE and say, ''pOor fellow, the Of
ficer was too fast" but give the
officer all the support you can, &c