Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1876-01-19
CIEARFIELD PAy WEDNESDAY JANUARY ls 1876 y

there be any enlightened or scientific
treatment under such condtionsY No
hospitals that tho State could construct
would afford accommodations for all
these helpless creatures. Most ofthcm
are incurably insane, and no course OF
treatment, be 1t ever 30 humane or skill
ful, could alleviate their misery. There
are, however, many inmates of this
almshouse, who, If they had been pro
pcrly treated in tho first stage OF their
aiiction, might have boen rescued from
the dcplorablc madness that shuts them
out from all hope. The construction
OF the hospital at Warren has progress
ed so far as the appropriation made in
It's behalf would permit. This hospital
was one eamong various institutions that
suffered by the failure Of the appropri.
ations TO charities at your last session.
sincerely trust that suitable provision
will be made at this session for the Wig,
orous prosecution Of the work upon
this hospital to Its completion, as there
lspressing need for the Accommodations
II will supply. The recommendations
Of the commission 10 inquire into the
condition of the criminal insane of the
State, embodied in their report made
to your honorable bodies at last session,
are worthy of your respectful atten-
ton. W af
LAwLEssNEss.
1t becomes my painful duty to
direct your attention to the lawless dis
position that exists in portions Of the
Commonwealth, where tumult and riot
at times have been so formidable, that
the Executive power of the State had
to be invoked to quell the disturbances.
These turbulent manifestations are be-
coming alarmingly frequent, and to re-
press them some remedy must be de-
vised. That the attitude of the Ex-
ecutivc towards the participants there
in may not be mistaken, the following
plain and easily comprehended princi-
piles are grouped together TO show what
will be the rule of his conduct on the
occasion of every outbreak of kindred
nature No disobcdience of regularly
constituted authority will be permit
ted, whether on the part Of individuals,
corporations or combinations of men.
No sense Of wrong, however grievous,
will or shall justify violence in seeking
indemnity therefor. The rights Of
property must be respected, and no in
reference with its legitimate use will
be tolerated. Every man must be al
lowed TO sell his own labor at his own
price, and his working must not be in
terrupted either by force or intimida-
tion. For grievances, iancied or real,
redress must be sought in the manner
the law provides, and no one must at
tempt to override its process. If citi-
zens will recognize these principles as
binding upon their consciences and ac-
tions, there can be no necessity for
Executive interference to preserve the
peace, and it must be understood, once
for all, that any violation of private
rights or resistance to public officers
when in the discharge of their duty,
will be summarily dealt with, and If
the civil authorities and the power Of
the county cannot maintain the esuprem-
acy Of the law, then the whole power
of the Commonwealth shall be en-
ployed, If necessary, to compel respect
for authority. Again, it is evident q
recurrence Of these disorders cannot be
prevented by theuse OF q military force,
for upon the withdrawal of troops, the
turbulent feeling still exists and there
is insecurity against similar outbreaks.
One of the main sources of the evil
has its origin in the timidity or unwil.
lingness of the local authorities TO en-.
force the law, and their duties should
be defined anew, and penalties imposed
that would compel their performance.
These tumults are not resistlcss, and
officers of spirit who know they have
the whole power ofthe Commonwealth
if needs be to support them, can have
no reasonable doubt of their ability to
repress every form of violence, aud IL
in the face of local disturbance, they
fail TO discharge their duty, they should
be made to feel the full responsibility
of their neglect and cowardice Mobs,
too, arc sentient bodies. They know
they cannot successfully contend with
the combined power of the State, and
if the energy of an officer evinces
determination to act promptly and res
olutely for the preservation of order,
rioters will quickly abandon their un-
lawful designs. Moreover, men who
engage in these riots are voters, and
the tenure of the offices of those in
authority depend in n large measure
upon the good will of these turbulent
electors, and II is difficult to find an
officer who will fearlcssly and fully per-
form what hcis legally required to do.
He paltcrs with his duty until the tu-
mutt assumes proportions that threaten
the peace and security Of the whole
community, and then, unable TO qucll
the disturbance, petitions for the aid of
the military, and the State is subjected
TO enormous expense to subdue an in
surrection that the ordinary police force
Of the county could readily have sup
pressed at its inception,
The local officers likewise aIegc their
inability to repress this turbulent spirit
because citizens, when summoned, re-
fuse TO assist them. Citizens fear TO
incur the enmty of tho rioters, and,
unless the penalties that attach to their
failure 10 assist tho officers are inflicted
IL is idle to expect them 10 perform
this ungracious, and, II may be, peril
GUS duty. Thus we have, in these
communities where this mob rule most
prevails, an unhealthy moral public sen.
timent, that, in the event of disturb.
ance, permits the officer TO neglect his
duty, refuses itself TO uphold the law,
and, when an offender Is arrested, con.
nives at the fraud that packs the jury
box with his sympathizers and friends,
maldnga moclsery Of justice and bring
ing the State and its authority into
merited rcproach. Through what
agency can we prevent u return Of
these disorders, make the local officers
and citizens moro vigilant and active,
and dissuade them from looking and
TO the Executive upon every
occasion of an alarm and tumult, are
questions TO which havegivcn patient
and anxious thought, and the following
plan will, | believe, afford practical
test of the disposition and ability of a
county to enforce the law and maintain
order within its limits. recommend
the enactment of a law empowering
the sheriff, whenever riot or disorder
is imminent, TO apply to the court of
his county, and upon the sworn certif-
cate of said sheriff that said riot or dis