The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-09-26
THE ENFORCEMENT OF Law.

I'LL We LA
The taunt has been thrown out that the
prohibition law is not enforced in the States
in which it has been passed because the Re-
publican party does not see to it that it is en-
forced as it should be. Here is the great mis-
take made by many honest men, Laws can
not be enforced as party measures. The best
that any party can do as a party, is to lead
the people into the realization Of what they
demand on the statute books, after which the
people must see that those laws are enforced.
1t is not the end of the law to pass it, nor
will law enforce itself after it is passed.
Public sentiment has to support the Law or it
is certain to fall into disuse and become
dead-letter.' But, in any event, the enforce
ical party, as party. The people, practical
ly, as WHOLE must be behind the laws or
they will not be enforced. We can
not have Republican courts Of JUS
tice and Republican judges who
are to put the law in force as Republicans but
what is needed is to elect Republicans who are
in favor of the enforcement of the law, and
then back them up by educating public senti-
ment to demand that all laws be honored. It
is as much the duty of the private citizen to
help in the enforcement Of the law against
illegal traffic in Intoxicating liquors as against
,1.1n bat Lo~vA MT
yet come to look at it in that way and until
they do it is impossible to expect Of them that
they will do their duty. The courts in most
States elected on this ISSUE are ready to do
their whole sworn duty in this thing, but they
are crippled by the fact that the great ajority
of the people are not actively in sympathy with
the idea of practical prohibition. The plain
duty Of the friends of prohibition is to educate
the people of the larger towns and cities, and
not to attempt TO drive them by causing the
enactment of laws that will not be enforced
after they are passed. Common-sense
thing else. Dispassionate judgment would,
we think, show that it is not wise
to expect party to pass laws and to insure
their enforcement before the people are in
sympathy with them. The Republican party
was able to establish emancipation, but it was
at time when the people were fearfully
wrought up on that subject and it stood,
though unquestionably it was partisan meas
ure. To have attempted to have done so be-
fore the time was right would have resulted in
civil war, as it was in the throes of civil war it
was achieved. The idea of universal freedom
was the right one, but it was no more right in
1868 than it had been at any time since the
founding of the American Republic. In due
time, with the people educated on the ques-
ton of prohibition, that reform may obtain,
but it must not be expected that the Mile
MUM can be brought about in day, nor that
unusual laws can be popuarized simply by be-
ing enacted. 1t is the duty of the people to
keep abreast of the progress of the times as
best they may. AS rule the Republican
party is ready and willing to lead wherever
the people demand but the people must not
expect the machinery of party to keep running
after the motive power of popular support is
removed.