The Arizona sentinel., 1876-06-03
LAW AND JUSTICE.


will be engenderd and a whole
community will take sides on
what each man considers to be
the right and justice of the mat
ter at issue. There can be no
question that in such cases men
are sometimes blinded by pre-
judice or feelings of friendship or
enmity toward one side or the
other. and are thus rendered in
capable of seeing clearly on which
side the right is. All men should
love justice for its own sake, and
all men should most deeply de-
sire that the law should be adj
ministered in its purity, without
any mixture of Partially or pre-
JUDGE. No man is so rich and in
dependent as to be above the law,
and no man is so poor as to be be-
meath it. The only security for
life and property anywhere, lies
in the firm and faithful admins
tration Of the law and the firm ad-
herance to justice, without respect
to persons. Were it not for the
restraints imposed by law, civili-
cation would be played out and
universal anarchy would prevail.
The law, among civilized nations,
is recognized as rule of action,
and wherever its officers are pure
and honest men, and the law is
cheerfully obeyed, there the peo-
pie are safest and happiest. No
good citizen can defy the law and
say Of its operation, "that decision
is unjust and contrary to law, and
l will do as l please" That won't
do. We know that owing to the
imperfections of human nature
wrong and injustice are some
times perpetrated in the name Of
law, but that does not justify the
citizen in defying the law. The
law prescribes It's own remedy for
wrong inflicted, and though some
times it may be slow in its opera
ton justice is sure to triumph at
last. Some readers at a distance
will perhaps ask what we mean
by writing the above truisms,
which are palpable to every re-
fiecting mind? We reply that
though our remarks are intended
for general application, they have
at this time a special local refer
ence.
This very peaceful community
has recently been agitated about
the rights of parties in action in
proceedings pending in our courts
in reference to the McLane Smelt-
ing works and mine. A large
portion of our people have taken
sides, much bad blood has been
raised, many nard things have
been said, and we have been urg-
ed by friends of the parties on
each side, to give the opposing
party particular fits in the columns
of the SENTINEL. Now with all
respect for the parties, we must
say that we will do no such thing;
for the following reasons: First
The matter referred to is a private
business affair, in which we have
no interest except our desire to
see justice done. Secondly-We
don't feel qualified to give an op-
inion as to the merits of the case,
not being attorney for either par
~ and not having heard the testi.
mony. Thirdly-Being a mem
Der Of the bar, we do not take out
side talk for testimony upon a
case pending in the Courts and
Seventeenthly; We do not be-
lieve it is the business or duty of
a public journalist to take sides in
private quarrels, particularly when
the matter at issue is in process of
litigation. But we do think it is
right that we should counsel mod
GRAFTON and obedience to the law.
II those whose business it is to
execute the behests of the law