The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1876-05-06
HOME REFORMATION.


I,, M business He needs the neart! s"PP'''
" .,,rv law abiding citizen. Much he can 90
.lous Int much more will be left undohe' II
nr y .ot seconded by the moral sentiment o'
sbs rcoplc. In the last analysis the executive
zs,wer rests with the people, II thcy say inc
,uorJ law must he enforced If they iorbld the
,r-ccotio, Of law, no executive officer can resist
tbejr viii. Hence a fair estimate can Eenera1Iy
t,e made Of the moral sentiment OF comm"nt
sy by observing how strictly they demand the
enforcement Of those laws that pertain 10 the
morals of the people. GeHGdiSY TINS Is ialr c.
climate, but not always; for sometimes the exc
cutiye officer goes ahead of public sentiment
and epforces laws, which the mass Of the people
z,rc willing to let remain dead letters on the
sisiuc books.
We have certain liquor laws enacted by lcgaF
IL established authority aud considered 10y the
people Of this commonwealth as WISE "uo'o
some and needful. These laws have ho' "oe"
enforced in many particulars in TINS Guy 'u'
EDayor has given notice "to whom IL may CO"
ccYr7 shat hereafter there enactments are not !"
L.e violated with mpunity. with all becoming
rcs,ert for the recognized energy oil our chlcI
officer it may yet be safely said that VAIN VIII DC
y,is effort if single handed. II the people, VINO
arr the real law makers, are not willing to I'LL
ginrer 10 aid in the execution OF the law, bricl
will re the time in which the lawlcsS Will have
ANY regard for official warnings. Already the
alr IL filed with rumOrs OF defiance OF authority
ma challenges to execute the li1uOr laws. VIII
tfte people, or will they not, demand a rlSlo Oh
s..ryance of the law touching the sale of intoX-
Scating drinks on the Sabbath day? That Is
vill they say amen to the mayors word OF prom
5ze That this law must DC obcycd? And will they
second the amen with united, persistent effort
10 sustain him in his good purpose TO enforce
abe law,
Are the people also ready to demand conI0r
nifty % the law, which fOrbids selling liquors u
minors? And are they equally in earnest to see
enforced the regulation, that puts penalty Oh
the sole of Intoxicating drinks to confirmed
drDnl,ardss Is public sentiment yet up to this
high pitch OF attainment? Our honored mayor
Il ia to be feared, will be quite alone on somt
Yo;uts Of his policy. Cannot and should no
yublis sentiment come to his aid when he set
shout the hard task of bringing the liquor-SclIc
20 account for his sins for violating the law "a
sSten as he sells to Il known drunkard? Or ha
the mayor himself yet screwed his courage NJ
20 the point OF demanding, that he shall suite
she fun penalty Of the law who sells to con
nrrned inebriate? Let all liquor laws be cniorc
"a. II they are wlsc wholesome and ncedfu
shey ought to be rigidly observed. If they ar
unwise, unwholesomc and not nccdful, tn
%recdicst way To dis post Of them is to eXccut
then 10 the last letter
Right here is where much lawlessness is ger
grated, not Only As touching the traffic in liquo
hut touching all matters regulated by tormi
nactmcnts. There are altogether too man
laws, That remain imperative. Wisely mad
shcy aye, aud ncedful to the welfare of con
1nuni.y, but they hayc never been brought
rhc light. They remain dead letters on Il
gtatutc books, objects OF interest only to leg
ar,iauaries. The oldest inhabltaLt cannot rcci
kbg lime when they were executed. Men TN
BECAME accustomed to living in open violatio
a }aw In almost all small cities there are Law
IorSiddIng owners of cattlc and other ANNA
60 leL their stock run at large through II
streets. But IN how many places are these la'
regarded, Surely not in Ottawa. There a
laws regulating the condition OF sidewalk
RYt Who thinks Of observing them unless iorct
sodoso. There are many other like ennctmen
which, being read by the generations followin
win give them exalted conceptions OF the hil
state II civilization this generation has rcachC
3N!t ghich arc violated with impunity by I'll
generation Now it were infinitely better th
Skrre tc no laws than to have them broken a
1ganpicd upon at the will OF the people
HhUra they are made. No matter what the lee
GDac.ments are let them be strictly and honor
bty enforced. The failure to do this is one of /
most fruitful sources VI lawlessncss at the pr
as. lime This generation needs to learn q
sJs.Ors 10 ia,e. In the home there is a lettl
down VI authority. Children are certain Il
thry knew more than their parents, and
pulsoIe5s hand with which the parent prefer
- guide shows that the children are abe
right They resent correction as insult. /
should be cured. At home must be laid
dcgp foundations Of respect for and ObcdlcI
10 lsW and authority. II all the children co
&c iEught this great fundamental lesson at no
AMI IN the schools there would be no trouble
executing any good, Wholesome law. 1t sho
:. understood 10y all that enacted law
abe judgment OF the majority as to what is
gEblic good. That judgment may not be sou
1he law may not be the best IL may not even
GOOD, II may be bad, still IL is law, and whct
gOOs bad or Indifferent let it be enforced I
sadiyidual can have no alternative but TO OF
SO suffer the penalty Of violation. Thus the
efB,ion OF all enacted laws may bring great
frTing Tor time to those who cannot consci
s.-l.usly obey certain statutes, but among a (
E4ople unjust laws cannot long be enforced.
Hhhil We add still more to the lawcssnCss
lac land by refusing to enforce the statutes
have made touching the liquor traffic in our q
barderss II the people could only be impress
ssh this majesty and authority Of the law VII
ghry themselves have made, they would rise
n Is defense and soon victory would perch u
mir banners. JEFFRRso'
THB COURTS