The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1884-05-21
State Ticket.
Misplaced sympathy.

The police of our towns and cities,
who are exposed to the dangers result
ing from their effort to protect our
property and lives from the low and
criminal classes, whose base and
revengeful passions they must often
contend against single handed, are en-
titled to our utmost consideration
and gratitude. A soldier fight
ing for his country does not
more truly than they, offer his life
as a defense for his fellows, and statis-
tics show that the risks taken are
scarcely inferior. He should not how
ever be expected to take the unnecess-
ary risk to person and life In contests
with the low and vicious and criminal,
especially when, infuriated by drink,
they attempt to do violence, In revenge
for fancied grievances. We would by
no means justify an officer In using
unnecessary severity or cruelty, but the
presumption should always be In favor
ofthe officer and again at the criminal,
whom he attempts to arrest. We are
aware that cases are not wanting where
the charge has been justly made, but
these arc the exception and not the
rule. The fact that an officer In a
hand to hand fight, with one or more
criminals, made irresponsible by drink,
gives, in the excitement, harder blow
han he intended, or In the darkness
struck In a more vulnerable part than
he expected, is not good and sufficient
reason for condemning alm. The pre-
sumption Of innocence on the part o
the criminal and Of guilt on the part OF
the officer is not just, and we are glad
10 think It Is very unusual. In a few
instances only, In the history Of We'll
lington, has there been shown a dlspo-
sition to condemn the officer and give
sympathy to the law-breaker, and this,
by a very few individuals. That the
dlsorderly, and rowdy, and criminal
classes should sympathize with each
other would be but natural, but by
what strange perversity of human ma
ture, intelligent, high-minded citizens
are able to put faith in the statements
OF men, for many years, notorious for
tits of drunkenness, and for quarrel
someness, and brutality while in this
condition; who do not hesitate at such
times to openly threaten the lives OF
those who have done them some
fancied injury, and the victims of
whose assaults are not few or unknown,
is an anomaly strange and unaccounta-
BILE. Our charity is not sufficient to
enable us to attribute Ii to spontaneous
natural goodness, to sympathy for the
innocent victims Of Injustice, and yet
we dislike TO charge any selfish or
unworthy motive Each one will put
his own Interpretation on such exhibit
ions of common interest and sympathy,
cut IL they are TO become at all general,
he good people OF Wellington, Will
need to make speedy preparation to
.miQrate, for with such encouragement
o law breakers to regard themselves
he injured innocent, this would not
long be cafe place for decent people
o live. We very much mistake the
,haracter and temper OF our people, or
.uch sentimental softness In favor OF a
drunken maniac, who springs upon an
officer In the dark, when he is already
handicapped attempting to put another
riminal In limbo, will meet with small
encouragement, and anyone Of the
riminal class, or their transient friends
attempting TO worry AN officer engaged
n the legitimate discharge of his duties
viii find that he has undertaken a very
unpleasant and Improbable job. 1t
nay as well be settled once for all, that
he word Of an officer with regard to an
,ncounter, is to be preferred TO that OF
man too drunk TO remember the cir
substances until the next morning,
whose word beddes, Is unsupported
md who has an established character
for insubordInation, when under the
influence OF drink. We owe sympathy
and moral support TO the men engaged
In the trying duties OF police oflicerhnd
il would be well to make suitable ac-
acknowledgement Of IL rather than to
pity those who may feel justified there
by TO take bis life on the first occasion.