St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-03-30

and the civil commonwealth, without which
there is for them no development of their
powers and no protection guaranteeing TO
them life, liberty and happiness. Natures
God, therefore, has willed the family and the
civil commonwealth. The authority inherent
in both has its source in the eternal mind,
and the laws that emanate from them are en-
robed in all the sacredness of His own imme-
diate laws. The origin of civil authority
gives the reason for its reverence and the
obedience which we demand for law from the
citizens of the state. There is no power but
from God: and that are ordained of
God. Therefore. he that resisteth the
the power resisteth the ordinance of God"
Laws define and regulate the rights and
duties of the different members of the social
body; they are the sinewS which link the
parts into one compact whole, the veins
and arteries through which the life
bearing blood circulates. Suspend the
action of the laws in the State-the
grim monster of death has settled upon
it, There is either anarchy or despotism.
Either the irresponsible and irrational mob
holds sway, robbing, burning, numbering, or
the only safety from absolute ruin-people
whose sword, while sacrificing their liberties,
shall at least guard
THEIR LIVES AND THEIR PRoPERrY.
Disrespect of any portion of the existing leg
islation of the commonwealth is step in 1.-THE
fatal direction of anarchy or despotism. In
no country is law-abiding spirit so neceS-
sary as in this republic of the United States.
We depend altogether upon this spirit for our
safety. Authority with US is shorn of the
Dageantry which surrounds old-world thrones.
There Is but its own dignity to inspire revCr-
ence; no powerful armies are near to compel
obedience. 1t is our boast before the nations
of the earth that we are q self-governing
people, respecting law for it's merits, and
obeying it under the sole compulsion of hon
est conscience. 1t is proud boast;
we are a fortunate people, SO long as
we Justify this boast. But vigilance is the
price of liberty, and we must be on our guard.
Drops of water at length wear away the hard
stone.
am not an alarmist, but tho electric wire
tells us that in parts of the country men as
sumo by their private authority sovereignty
over their fellow-men, and wear menacing
countenances in presence of organized law.
Near our homes, as well as through the land
at large, a certain traffic openly and
FEARLESSLY VIOLATES THE STATUTES
which restricts its abuses, and counting its
votes by its dollars deies the power of legis-
latures and executives. The word rights is
ever dinned into our ears, but scarce IS men
tion allowed OF duties. as If there could be
rights without corresponding duties, as IL the
same authority which grants rights does not
in the same moment impose duties. The
men who recognize no duties towards fellow
men and towards the state should never ap-
is the desert or some lonely isle, where if
they do no good they at least do no harm to
the race.
The organization of law and order leagues
mas been thought of as preventive of the
growth of lawleSSness. Leagues exist in
most of the large cities and produce the best
results. The secretary OF tue most success
full of those leagues. the one organized in
Chicago, has done US the honor to visit our
city aud will explain to you the pur-
IL. II v-.n1
be organized in St. Paul; we bespeIk for IL
your kind encouragement. There may be in
some minds a prejudice, against the move
ment: the prejudice we are confident will
disappear before the proper explanation, and
the workings of our associations i desire to
emphasize the design of the league. 1t is the
enforcement of existing law, because il is
law. We are essentially nou-partisan in pol
itics, inviting all parties TO our ranks, as all
parties are supposed, until manifest proof TO
the contrary is gwen, to recognize the obligu-
ton of law. We do not aim to- take upon our
selves the duties of the executive. state or
municipal. Our purpose as law-abiding citi-
zens must be TO respect the prerogativCs of
bodies created and confirmed By law. Nor do
we for a moment intimate that the existing
officers OF the law are not
THOROUGHLY LOYAL TO THEIR TRUST,
nor do we believe it possible that they look
askance at the league. As citizens we desire
TO cooperate with and assist them. We are
responding 10 their reiterated appeals that
violations of the law be reported to them.
We propose that the violations shall be re-
ported TO them, that they may deal with them
the most effective manner. The special
object of our attentions for obvious reasons
shall be the liquor traffic. We have but the
one purpose. TO demand that the laws now on
the statute book be enforced. They are at
present shamefully violated by many saloon
keepers. The league will seek to impose no
new law neither prohibition or high license;
IL should, then, encounter no opposition from
LIQUOR sellers who respect themselves, and
who strive to throw responsibility around the
traffic Those who will oppose US arc they
who despise law, and IL is an honor TO be op-
posed by such. The liquor traffic advertises
itself as a lawful business; we will aid IL to
make good its word. remember, a year ago.
during the high-license agitation, the argu-
ment of the liquor dealers was that high
license law is superfiuous, existing laws, If
enforced, being all sufficient to prevent
abuses. There is virtue, we confess, in ex-
listing laws. We will take their advice and
enforce those laws.
MIR. PAXToN's ADDRESS.