Wichita eagle., 1889-01-18
PRINCIPLES UNDERLYING THE MET.
ROPOLITAN POLICE LAW AND
ALL LAWS OF A SIMILAR
NATURE.

our city authorities were venal and cor
rupt. Whereas as fact our authorities
are equal in all the attributes that COM
pose manhood to anybody that make up
the council in any city in Kansas.
| Comprehensive craftsmanship does not
measure the infringement of right or
the curtailment of civil power by the
magnitude of the instance, but by the
consequences that may flow from the
establishment of principle in govern
ment and belittles man.
Had our forefathers reasoned on any
other principle the ''stamp act would
have been acqulesced in. This principle
in government would be a fixed prin-
ciple.
The contention ''for principle" has
been the cause of wars and revo-
| buttons, law suits and wrangles
and is justified by every bill of rights in
| all state constitutions.
To carry this contention for principle,
| further an old writer has lain down the
following proposition as governmental
principle:
ga man of spirit, (much less nation)
does not measure the degree of an injury
by the mere positive damage he has sus-
tanned by the violation of privileges. He
considers the principle upon which the
invasion of his rights is founded; he re-
sents the superiority asserted over him,
and resents with indignation the claim
which is sought TO be established
The repeal by law Of privileges which
in America have deem bestowed on town
ships. towns, cities and counties from
our earliest history would be constitu-
tional, vet it would be abhorrent to every
sense of justice, and yet this law, in its
principle, carries with it warrant to
any legislature to bestow on the (gen-
eraD state government the local admins
tration of every county in the state.
To use a common instance, which
will appeal to every tax payer in
the state. because of the abuses
that followed it in other states, to-wit:
Formerly the power was granted to
county Judges or county commissioners
to subscribe for stock in railroad COM
panies. In some other states ruin and
widespread insolvency was the result.
The spirit of the people demanded that
this should be left to vote of the COM
munity to be effected by the bonds.
slowing this power upon anybody but
the people would it not be cause of re-
volt, if not danger to the law maker?
An injury unresented to the meanest
or vilest citizen in Kansas, if it be by
stretch OF misuse of power, establishes "a
precedent, and is an injury TO the entire
are not in the least affected by 1t, and
In, tlf oh
ment bestowed on some creature, are we
not inviting further stretches of the pre-
negative if we quietly acquiesce In it?
If law be equal justice, founded
on reason and bears equally
this law violates the standard.
But if law be chat which is boldly as
serted and plausibly maintained" accord
ing to an old writer this fills the meas
ure.
But there is principle in maintain
ing principle if we have any principles,
and it is this part of our common citi-
Zenship that we appeal TO.
The dearest interest of this country is
that law shall be equally enforced or not
enforced at all.
Against every attempt to have partial
enforcement there should be strong
and determined effort on the part of
every citizen.
If court would enforce a law on a
personal enemy, or on a man for whom
it had no regard, and turn friend loose,
who would raise his hand to prevent its
being mobbed?
Yet this is the position OF the power
that put this law over Kansas City,
Leavenworth and Wichita.
Personally this law has never in any
manner disturbed me, either directly, or
even remotely. Nor do | conceive how
it can, except in opening the door for
other miSchievous legislation.
[ cannot conceive of anything that has
greater tendency to make men or
communities more careless or indiffer
ent as. to the results of any given policy
than relieving them from all RESPONSE
bility or share in the shaping of policy
or government.
The true policy, it seems to me, would
be TO force individual responsibility on
every man to make him feel that he is in
measure to blame for evils; not plainly
say to him your help is not needed, we
govern. you are not a man, an individ !
ual, a factor.
1t is asserted that in Wichita that the
men selected as police commissioners
were not chosen by reason of personal
popularity, virtue, laborious zeal i'll the
interest of the city or society, great abil-
ity. varied business experience, property
interests, broad gagged principles or
from knowledge, or even suspicion. that
they We're best equipped mentally or
morally to perform the duty to be per- |
formed by them. The above is not said |
in derogation of the private character Of /
the gentlemen selected, because the pos |
session of the above virtues was not the !
cause of their appointment.
Our commissioners have not lost caste !
by appointment, bat ii is a fair question /
whether or no they, or any of them |
could have been elected to any city Office /
prior to their appointment, purely on
merit as citizens.
1t is submitted that nothing can debase |
a community. more than having men |
placed over it that q majority OF voters !
would have resented at an election.
Is there not some principle of fairness I
IN this?
Can anything be more humiliating or
degrading in its influence on a high |
minded man than the acceptance Of a |
place under government which is be- !
slowed not on account of the esteem in
which person is held bv the appointing
power, nor because of fancied abilities
the person possesses, nor because Of es-
tablished, intiexible character, but be- |
cause the administration is simply hunt /
ing for tools to enforce line of ad- !
policy?
The writer of this paper does not place |
his opinion on the ground that he is op- |