The Columbus journal., 1884-12-17
For the JOURNAL.
The Laws should be Enforced.

For the JOURNAL.
The Laws Should be Enforced. !.
MEssRs. EDITORS With your per-
mission, the undersigned desires to
submit few remarks for the candid
consideration of your readers, relat-
ing to the administration of criminal
Justice in Platte county. l might
preface these statements by stating
here that it is my humble opinion that
l have a right so to do, for at least
two very cogent reasons; first, be-
cause it was my fortune to reside
within her borders for number OF
wears. Therefore l take more or less
pride in the good name Of my old
home, particularly when l hear that
good name drawn in question so fire.
quently on account Of recent occur
rences therein. Secondly, because
am a taxpayer therein, and am di-
rectly interested i'm her material pros
perity, both as respects the matter OF
increasing the valuation of her prop
erty, and lesseniDg the burdens of the
taxpayers. Thus, 1 take it for grant
ed, that no good citizen who wishes
to see crime committed in Columbus
and vicinity punished, will take ex-
ception to these observations. 1t is
expected, however, that your crooks
and their sympathizers may, for in
times past they have stood in public
places and insulted respectable citi-
zens whom they had injured and des-
poiled; thus investigations have been
stifled, prosecutions made bideous
mockeries, in spite of the efforts of
courts and District Attorneys. The
evils that ensue from such neglect and
apathy are many. Bad examples are
set before the young, which will more
than counteract the beneficent infiu-
ences of the home and school. Prom
ises of immunity are held out to
criminals, if they will come into your
borders to operate. The vicious
classes, who will blk aud rob the
honest citizens, will increase. The
taxpayers burdens will multiply.
Men OF means, especially if they have
families, will hesitate to reside and
invest in property where such acts
are tolerated with Indifference. Some
may answer if a man don't want to
come and live with us he needn't.
Did it ever occur to such persons that
if a man with money who comes
among you and invests it, and trades
with your citizens, pays his debts, he
is building up our interests, lessening
our taxes, and is a better factor in the
community than blk or crock, who
dead-heads on and Injuries you at
home and predjudices you abroad? .?
How can it be otherwise expected
than that boys who are naturally
good and have kind parents, would
yield to temptation, when such evil
examples are put before them, and
commit crime. The laws should be
enforced and justice ough. to have an
inning, just once. Whenever the
above matters have been broached in
nv hearing, | have invariably said
that the citizens of Columbus are not
vicious, that they are, generally speak
ing, good at heart; but are too back
ward in taking an interest i'm those
affairs which most affect the body
polite, thinking perhaps that the
officers Of the law will bring things
about all rig Int sometime. Did il ever
occur to you tina: officers can do very
little towards enforcing the laws, ii
tney do not have a healthy moral sem
timent to support them in their GOOD
work2 Courts ard sheriff. cannot
create good jurors. Ii men, who
ought to serve, will shirk their share
of the responsibility which they ought
TO assume, on some dry legal icchni
caiity Justice will suffer, and Crime
flourish. Shall the court be a place
where justice is judicially admins
tered, or shall il became the city OF
refuge for the malefactor, circus
where the crook is the star and the
Judge the clown? Mcthinks | hear a
voice comipg frcm the inmost soul of
every good citizen within your pOr-
tails saying that the ielons must 60;
that they have debauched our morals
long enough; you culprits we have
suffered with us too long in the good
ness of our hearts we have tolerated
you hoping that you might turn from
your iniquity, and become respecta-
BILE: but how can the leopard change
his spots? IIenccforth our officials
shall have our active moral support.
Trusting that these lines will be re-
ceived by the well disposed in the
spirit of kindness in which they arc |
traced, having waited for others 10 |
take the initiatory, the remembrance |
of warm friends, and the kindly re-
gard ] still have for my old home,
have induced this action. Believing
that right will ultimately and power
fully prevail, | remain.
Yours respectfully,
BYRON MILLErT.
December 9th, 1884.