The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1889-03-14
Reconsldered.

showing forth Of wrong doing was in
tended to make the assertion Of the
Hillsboro Gasette-that the morals Of
this community, outside the churches,
stood above par a. compared with other
towns, and which stands ready to prove
II need be. We say that the showing
of existing evils would greatly weaken
the proof that the Gazette is ready to
furnish. Notwithstanding all this we
are Of the opinion now, and have been
for years past, that there is as much
genuine respect for both law and gospel
in Hillsboro, churches included, as there
is to be found in any other town in this
or any other State. II has required
very great deal Of effort to bring the Ga.
sette to the top Of this eminence. But
now that 1t is there and:ready to demon.
strate BY proof its position, we have no
disposition to push IL down. And fur.
ther, we are truly glad to be able to
agree on question Of such importance
to this place.
In saying this we would not be under.
stood as holding out the idea that Hills.
boro 10 place of delights unalloyed by
any evil. It can not be truthfully called
an elysian field. But we are persuaded
that the publication in detail Of existing
evils will not prove any great remedy Of
those evils. In giving names Of offend.
ers and full description of the crimes
committed tends in many instances, we
believe, to incite those who have little
sense Of moral rectitude and who in
their cupidity seek notoriety, to initiate
offenders OF morals and breakers Of the
law for the enriable notoriety gained by
breaking the law and having their
names in the public prints. This is our
strongest reason for refraining at this
time from publication of some of the
fragrant acts which have been commit
ted in Hillsboro recently. 1t certainly
would be improper not to say to the
young men who have had very narrow
escapes from justice-we say escapes
from justice advisedly-that much more
is known by both citizens and officers
than has been made public. And if the
proverb, "a word to the wise is suffic.
lent" is to be of any force to the effend-
ers, it will prove mark of wisdom on
the part of quite number of Hillsboro's
young men that they stop now, before
their names are added to the list OF those
already on the Mayors docket. But in
thus choosing to avoid giving notoriety
to crime and criminals, it must not be
suspected for moment that this paper
will be silent in regard to those whose
duty it is to suppress crime and bring
offenders to justice. We shall boldly
speak out If those who are found break
ing the law are not promptly brought to
justice. Our officers will in the bring.
ing Of lawbreakers to answer promptly
for their offenses greatly aid in the So
cial and moral standing of this commu.
nifty.
While endorsing our cotemporary on
the corner Of Main and High streets in
reference to its position on the moral
standing of this community, there was
another short article in last weeks issue
of the Gazette that we say amen to. And
that is the remarks in reference to pave.
ment distractions. This matter has
been again and again referred to by the
public press. 1t has been held up in
every light. 1t has been shown that il
is against the local law to obstruct the
pavements. 1t has been reasoned
against. 1t has even been ridiculed.
The officers attention has been often
called to this. We do not refer to the
present officers exclusively, although
their attention has been called to the
fact. But yet we have the pavementa
ornamented with fruit stands, tables,
boxes, barrels, plows, harrows, etc. But
why enumerate And for a larger why,
why is it that the newspapers must take
up an unpleasant theme and point out
to the officers their duty and call atten.
ton to those who are in the habit of en-.
croaching on the public rights? The &C.
cident that happened last week gives
fresh impulse to the thought of clear.
ing the pavements. We are not in.
clined to censure the Farmers Hardware
Company, neither are we disposed to
blame Mr.. Rhoten for carlessness in the
matter. But the disposition of the
horse to break it's strap when hitched
and thu position Of the plow on the
pavement cased serious accident in the
loss to Mr.. Rhoten of d good young
mare. There might be something said
about making barn-yards Of our streets
in the leaving of wagons and teams on
them. But there is no law against
There is an ordinonce in reference to
the pavements, and the question is Ger.
tainly pertinent one. Shall the ordi-
nance in reference to distractions on
the pavements be repealed or enforced 7