The Waco daily examiner. [volume] (Waco, Tex.) 187?-1888, 1885-08-08
quiet waco.

Waco is one of the busiest aud
most active cities in all Texas, not
only that, but in all the west, CONNER
cially speaking, and yet we do not
hesitate to say that there is less
drunkenness, less quarreliug, fewer
digraceful rows, than in any other {
place of equal Importance III all
Texas. II is the general remark of
all visitors that one may walk from
the head OF Austin street to the
plaza, from Washington to Clay, ON
either Third, Fourth, Fifth or Sixth
streets. at any hour day or night, and
moi encounter single drunken man
or hear word of profanity or hear
or see any thing offensive TO the eye or
car of the most delicate and sensitive,
1t is the rarest thing that we see Of
fensive manifestation, from prostitu-
lion now. Two years since, all these
vices were Extensively displayed on
our streets. Gambling hels existed
ON the ground floors of our principal
streets and, men were killed frequent
ly and other dangerous and unseemly
things were done. The EXAMINER
then under the care of its
present editor commenceda little raid
on these vices and upon the lax ad-
ministration of law with regard to
them. To-day we contrast with the
days oftwo years since. The improve
ment is evident to all, as also is the |.
cause. The laws are more rigidly en-
forced. Privilege is not suffered to
degenerate into license, aud with the !
laws enforced they are demonstrated
to be equal to the protection OF every
interest OF society as they are, as they
exist on the statute books
and are faithfully and fearlessly
administered by honest and capable
officers. just why this is not sutii.
cient we cannot see. just why con-
dition which protects all alike should
be ripped up and set at loose ends we
fail to see, 1t is very homely old
adage which admonishes us to leave
well enough alone. AS we are going
on now the government protects the
life, the property and the feelings of
the masses. 1t does not permit their
sense of propriety, or even their pre-
judices to be too rudely jumped on.
But it will assuredly draw the reius
too close, too tight, when IL assumes
the task of keeping the conscience of
the people. The government is not
responsible tor the consciences of the
people, or for the religious or moral
sentiments they hold. 1t is RESPONSE
BILE only when IL fails to repress
their unlawful manifestations, or
when the peace and dignity of the
whole or any part is assaulted or
threatened. Thus, the government
may not say what II man may eat or
drink, but il he gets drunk aud vio-
lates law il may and must handle him
Just as IL does anyone else who breaks
the law. That is our way of thinking.
"fhc largest measure OF individual
liberty consistent with the safety of
the whole" 1t is sound morality. II
is sound political economy, and IL is
the very Soundest of democracy.
We are proud of the fact that Waco
9 has found that II rigid enforcement OF
6 law ia equal to the task of protecting
the people, without there being the
slightest necessity for u policy which
moves us backward into the baleful
light of the blue laws of Connecticut
in force nearly two hundred years
ago. We want to see the country 90
forward, not back. We must nd.
vance, not retrograde. Sumptuary
legislation Is retrogrcssion. Progress
demands that men be educated to the
point where they will not behave an
seemly in a christian country on the
christian Sabbath; where member OF
a christian and refined community
, will not debase himself below the
brute by wicked indulgence of the
appetites and passions more brtitting
the savage than the member of such
christian community. After all, these
are matters of education. We have
educated our police aud peace officers
up TO the point where they not only
believe the laws REFRESHING those vices
can be enforced, but they actually do
enforce them.
So 1t is, SO ii can be, aud so II will
be with regard TO Intoxicating H.
quors. Its offensive, dangerous aud
unlawful manifestations may be re-
pressed and stamped out altogether
by rigid and honest en-
forcement of the laws we al
ready have, and by that general pub.
lie education of the masses so that the
laws to repress excessive drinking
will not be longer necessary. II is the
only way; TO meet the vice, which has
about IL the least signs of reasonable
probability.
PATRONS OF Waco schools who live
at distance, need not be afraid TO
| send their Children hare Waco 4;