The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1884-06-26
PRINCIPLE INVOLVED.

1t is a question how far an act
evil in itself, is mitigated by tn
character of the person guilty
Of the act. 1t is the mos
common thing in the world to EEL
violations OF law and good ordel
forgiven because of the position Of
the character of the individual by
whom the violation is committed
There is little doubt the effect
such condonements have on the
public mind. II a man in position
or power can do a thing which is
admitted to he contrary to the oDer-
atoms of existing laws, or the re-
quirements of society, and that
man goes unpublished, there cannot
be 8 shadow on which to base a
bubble over the effect on the
minds Of less influential persons
The right of every man 10
do what may be done by
another with IMMUNITY, so far as
law is concerned, is admitted in all
fair republics and by all bros1
minded men; but when it comes
down to practice, one can often
find the most influential, because of
his influence going directly in the
Toafh 0f on oofiuo low on for 90 fla
masses are concerned, buta dead let
ter 10 him on account of his power,
A good citizen is not one who con-
scientiously keeps out Of the clutches
Of the law. He is a man who,
would be ashamed to commit any
act calculated to weaken the respect
of people generally for a law he
claims it the duty Of all to uphold.
II it is right for one man to pay a
license for carrying on q certain
business, justice requires that every
other person engaged in the same
pursuit and enjoying the same priv
ilege, should be similarly tsxed.
The fact thai the person
belongs to club is of
no earthly consequence in Justice, |
though it may be in legal view.
Who pays the license? Who usys
for the lights and trappings il
saloons, for large police forces, pays
the wages Of the bartender, and the |
profits Of the saloon owner? The
man who drinks the liquor, without |
doubt. Should the fact that a man
drinks his liquor in q certain place
release him from license burdens, |
because permission to pstronize the
same saloon - for that what it
amounts to in plain English-is |
denied another, who consequently
must contribute TO the licanse? 20
reply affirmatively would be to
write ones self down an ass. Nor
does it make any difference that
man pays his bills at the end OF
each month, instead of by the drink;
nor that he shares the profits Of the
saloon. To go into saloon on Sun.
day snd drink is a violation of a
city ordinance, liable to punish
menJ, but TO belong to an organizes
ton and invite your friends in and
get as full as goose on Sunday in
the club room, is no 0ffense at all.
There is something radically wrong.
II one man should be exempt all
should be, and the good citizen
would scorn to enjoy q right and
suffer another, who should have the '
same right, TO be denied it. If license
is wrong then no man should be-
assessed; if it is right, the man who
will evade its operation by tech
is not good citizen, for he
does that which is calculated to
Oringl a just law into contempt, and
while position, power and influence
may shield him, he can hardly have =
hat respect for himself which a
aithful observance Of honest forms
S eyer certain to beget.