The Brookhaven leader., 1884-05-29
(ConijnDed .Jrom Isl pays }

s'Nbt wv ''ltsl t'u. Ft't fHftt'fH
net ceiRm, wEs the stern maxim at
Roman Jurisprudence; but this
maxim had no home in the hosOm
uf Plate. llas it any home in the
hosoms uC the defenders of the laws
in tAis land? When a magistrate
is imhccilc or inactive; when he
conniVes at pShlic tumult and aisor-
der; when arpIised Of threatened
danger tn property or life, he makes
no preparation to maint; in the 81
premacy Of the law or when lie cool
" looks on, Ur the citizens look on,
and they have no power or n0 will to
prevent tire disgrac eful and shocking
scene; who can I've igBora't of what
scenes are yet lie follow Cut of
from the protection el his cCEutry.
TO whom shall man or society oi
nCn appeal IN defence OF their rights
Government is ut an end, and law is
at an end, and but one more step is
nee ssary to complete the ruin OF the
nation Let some Catalina call
around him tie dissipated and law
~ SIll AbS VI SlsI idifl. ltJ MIN W.
lcct grem every dram shop, and every
abode Of idleneSs and of guilt, those
who utterly ignore the law OF human
rights; let him teach the precious
uaxim of modern infdeity that all
property is to he common aud all
institutions leveIIed; and the bril-
liant career of our Republic will soou
be closed by the darkest dcsPotiem
that has ever tyrannized overa3an-
kind.
And unless in this eomnGn.ty there
IS moral strength enough to preserve
the supremacy of the laws. unless
there are m"gi'tr0teS who ~U Toy
do,cH Neir HreS rather than see the
property and rights of their fellow
citizens destroyed by the dissipated,
Iawless class that are intcstipg our
land; and unless there is principle
enough in the community to sustain
them in the enforcement OF the laws.
we have already come to the crisis
of our destiny and the end OF our
Liberties.
But we admit that the laws are
good enough. But the truth is
alarmingly manifest that they are
not enf)rccd. Those charged with
The solemn duty Of enforcing the
laws are net universally faithful, |
tear not generally so. Magistrates
do not feel as they SHOULD the res
possibility of their office. IN many
cases they connive at crime, and
deal out justice with weak and
wayeriny hand. The Cincinnati
riot has uncarthcd facts Of an
astounding character. 1t is now
patent that the Grand Jury and
Petit jury were packed. Corrupt
Lawyers soiled the ernine of their
responsible Office by prosGtutlng
their talents to deeds of the most
shameful nature. An Outrageous
criminal escapes TIE gallows through
the periured acts o. the officer OF
the court. This is true in.thousands
af other courts outside of Cincinnati
1t is owing to corruption or neglect
among the Magistrates Of the land.
While murder IS a common offence,
it is all exception to the rule that
the death penalty is inflicted Not
one fifth 81 the offenders charged
with this high crime receive their
Just reward. Under the practice OF
our criminal courts this class of
offenders escape justice and are
turned loose rs rave nous beasts
upon the rights AMI peace of the
munity. Let the Judges, iuries
and other magistrates of our land
consider gravel y these patent and
starting facts. Discharge the solemn
trusts Of your sacred offices in such
an impartial and conscientious man
ner that the evils complained OF
shall be remediea and that all pre-
texts for resort to mob law shall be
fully and forever removed. God
Himself, whose servant you are,
demands the utmost diligence and
Fidelity at your hands.
Every man, therefore, every citi
4en OF this commonwealth, every
lover Of civil and religious liberty
has, an interest in upholdiug the
laws OF the land. Ike should assert
and manifest this interest. The
church itself looks to the govern
ment for protection. Be it ours to
defend and upheld our laws, and to
help to tran smit them unsuliied to
future times. By all the powers of
argument they are TO be maintained;
by all the tenderness of pursuasion;
by all the frmness of christian prin-
ciple and lofty patriotism; by every
one who loves his country or the
church by the pen, the press; in
the pulpit, in the legislative hall;
By the tiresile and in tie seminarieS
OF learning; as parents in the gov
eminent OF your children, as chris
tians in every walk eff life. Thus
only when our laws are properly
respected, obeyed and enforced. will
the supremacy of the laws be main
tanned; thus only can we look for
the wide prevalence of christian and
Eirtuous liberty and for the univer-
cal reign oftruth, order and pros
perfty. Christian brethren and
friends, let there be one community