The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1883-06-20
Sentiment and Lawlessness.

serving foreigner, brought mp under one OF
the monarchies of the old world, where the
utmost regard for authority and law is
taught the people from youth up, and where
every violation of law is visited with the
severest penalties from which no one, rich
or poor, high or low, can any more escape
than from the decrees of fate-so unpleas-
antly as the spirit of lawlessness and van
dalism and riot and crime that prevails and
too often goes unpunished and unremark-
ed in this boasted land of free institutions.
In its more extrayagant manifestations,
such as capital crimes and others Of slight
ly lesser degree, public sentiment condemns
and will Justify their punishment, though
the delays and the uncertainties of the law
and the tardiness with which justice is
meted out, have largely abolished the NOR
al and legal restraints that under other cir
cumstances might deter the evil disposed
from crime.
This condition of things is partially no
doubt the occasion, perhaps the cause, of
the prevalence all over the country of dis
position to disregard all the forms Of law,
and TO take into their own hands the exc
cution of penalties that should never be
inflicted except upon the most certain evil
dence of guilt known to human law, and so
in not few instances the lives Of innocent
men have been taken This of itself ought
to be sufficient TO alarm US, but when it is
known that this disposition or tendency Is
extending through all ranks Of society, that
the individual is more and more taking into
his own hands the redress Of his real or
fancied grievances or injuries and becomes
the Judge and exeeutioner of the criminal,
with the approval of society, and after a
farce Of trial with certain acquital by 3
jury Of his peers, we may well question the
wisdom and perpetuiy OF Republican In
stitutions.
Lawlessness and crime are spreading like
a contagion, but instead Of being viewed
with apprehension, appear rather to be
looked upon with indifference If not appro-
val On the question of the nature Of crime
and the moral responsibility of the crimi-
nal, society seems totally at sea- The ques-
ton of guilt has very little weight in deter
mining whether criminal shall be pun
ished or not Wealth, position, sentiment,
respectable connections, prejudice or SYM
pafhy, each are more potent factors than
the abstract question Of guilt. 1t is bard
TO say whether these loose and wicked mo-
tons have arisen in the upper or lower
strata Of society, but it is certain II
pervades all ranks. From the boy not yet
in his teens to his hoary- headed sire, consid-
erations Of right and wrong, law and disor-
der have very slight relations to human
conduct
1t Is sufficient for the boy that given
thing interferes with his pleasure or con
venience, without reference TO its having
been ordered by legally constituted author
tiles, who cannot be suspected Of any selfish
or improper motive, after long and patient
study Of every phase of the subject, he feel
perfectly safe and justified in resorting tc
acts Of vandalism and crime to defeat the
measure and testify his supreme displeas
) ure, and the saddest thing Of all Is that they
in most instances, are made 70 feel that the,
have the moral support of parents ant
friends who happen 70 sympathize witi
their view Of the subject. Criminal acts On
the part Of their children, If not openly jus
titled, are too often winked at or consideres
as the youthful pranks Of boys, not sufi
ciently serious to warrant punishment I
the damage to property is Insignificant,
does not seem to be though. that the opel
defiance of law, II in opposition TO an ur
popular measure, Ia demoralizing in its ter
dencies and setting an example to other
that they win not be slow TO initiate.
The average judgement, even in our mos
intelligent communities, is so weakene
that IL Is almost more than the reputation
Of the authorities is worth 70 attempt TO In
iict legal penalties for minor offenses, e
pecially If the offender Is respectfully cor
nected, and so they 60 on growing in crime
and out of 1t we finally reap plentifr
crop of criminals and outlaws that are
terror to society, and which have alread
made this country notorious for its disregar
oflaw.
In Europe the majesty Of the law
everything, and petty crimes, as well g
those Of greater magnitude, are punishe
with such promptness and certainty an
severity that they are well nigh unknown
Here on the contrary, beardless boys VIII
have not been raised in vice but under th
most favorable conditions. engage in acts
lavlessness the penalties Of which are fin
and imprisonment with no apparent sham
or compunctions Of consciences and all, q
We believe, on account Of wrong teaching