The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-01-05
SPIRIT Of THE PRESS.
The English Papers Of This Morning.

The Commercial says If Governor
Garcelon counted upon favorable answer
from the Court, his surprise must have
been very great as he read the unanimous
opinion of the Court, signed by every mem
ber OF that high tribunal. The action of
tive Governor and Council stands unsus-
tanned on every point. 1t is not only
unanimous decislon-it is unanimous
condemnation. What effect it will have
upon the Governor. or upon the re-
suit of his arbitrary and un-
warranted action, remains to be seen. In
concluding this important opinion, the
Court emplo.s language that is worthy
of reproduction and remembrance. 1t
says: This Government rests upon tho
great constitutional axiom that all power
is inherent in the people. 1t is Govern
ment of the people. by the people, for the
people, and if administered in the spirit
Of its founders it shall not perish from the
earth Its Constitution was formed, to
use an apt expression of one whose memory
is embalmed in the heart of his country
men. by plain people, and plain people
must administer it. The ballot is the pride
as we'll as the protection OF all. 1t is the
truest indication of popular will. The Of
fcal returns required from the municipal
officers of the several plantations, towns
and cities, are and will be made
by plain people. and made, too, in
the hurry and hustle and ex-
element of election. They are not re-
auired to be written with the scrupulous
nicely of writing. master or with the tech
nical accuracy OF plea in abatement
Sentences may be ungrammatical, spelling
may deviate from recognized standards but
returns are not brought to naught because
the penmanship may be poor, language un-
grammatical. or spelling erroneous. 1t is
enough if the returns can be understood; {;
and If understood, full effect should be
given to their natural and obvious mean
ing. They are not to be strangled by idle
technicalities, nor is their meaning to be
distorted BY carpings and captions criti-
cism. When that meaning is ascertained,
there sh .uld be no hesitation in giving it
full effect MIR. Richard Smith, of the Ga
zette, is to be before the Police Court to-day,
charged with criminal libel, for publish
ing what sqnealing gambler had to say.
There has been good reason to believe that
the criminal classes OF Cincinnati, especially
the gamblers and prostitutes, have been
paving large sums to pers ms presumed. to
be in control of the machinery of justice,
pTOltCtlOu VIC PChulICo VI thO
law. We have heard this sum stated at
two thousand dollars month. and that it
was regularly divided among gang of
scoundrels who infest the City Buildings
and the Courthouse and are professors OF
influence with Courts and juries and the
police.
The Gazette says: The Board of Alder
men passed an ordinance fixing the price
of gas at 81 25. 1t went to the Council,
where it was referred to committe with
instructions to find out what it cost to
make gas, BY questioning people who never
saw the inside of gas-honse. Then the
committee was discharged, and the or.
dmance was amen ded by striking out 81 rs
and inserting ST. This was done, too, by 9
majority that favors 81 75-the price the
Gas Company want Thus the farce is con
tinued and probably will be continued in
definitely. The price will be either fixed
at 81 rs, or it will not be fixed at all.
Meantime consumers will pay the Gas
Companys price, and submit to theil
terms Governor Garcslon has sub
mitted to the Supreme Cour
Judges questions involving ths
| legality of his act in counting out Repre-