Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-03-14

~ DE Constttution. III tho laws enacted By
Couerosa These laws arc general and then
admin1stsataon should be uniform and equal AZ
citizen may not elect what laws he win obey,
neither may tho executive elect which
he win enforce. The duty to obey and
execute embraces tho Constitution in its en-
trety and the whole code Of laws enacted under
it The evil example Of permitting individuals
corporations and communities to nullify the
laws because they cross some selfish or local
interests or prejudices, IL full of danger not
Only 70 me NATION At large. but much more to
those who use this pernicious expedient To es.
cap their just obligations or to obtain an UNI
just a0<antage over others. They win present
~ themselves be compelled to appeal to the
law for protection and those who would use
the law rs = defense must not deny the use OF
IL to others.
II our great corporatiens would more scrupu-
lousy observe their legal i.aitations and duties
unlawful limitations of their rights or of violent
interference with their operations The COM
munity that by concert, open or secret, Smong
its citizens denies to a portion OF its members
their plain rights under the Law has severed the
only safe bond OF social order and prosperity.
The evil works from q bad center both ways,
It dem0ralize- those who practice 1T, and de-
strovs the faith OF those who suffer by it in the
efficiency of the Law as q safe protector. The
man in whose breast that faith has been dark
ened is naturally the subject OF dangerous and
uncanny suggestions. Those who use unlawful
methods. II moved by no higher motive than
the selH>hness that prompted them may well
stop and inquire what is to be the end of this.
An unlawful expedient can not become q per-
manent condition of government II the edu-
Gated and influential classes in a community
either practice or connive at the systematic
violation of laws that seem to them to cross
their convenience. what they expect
when the lesson that convenience or
q supposed class interest is sufficient cause
for lawlessness has been well learned by the
ignorant classes? A community where law is
the rule of conduct and where courts not mobs,
execute its penalties, is the only ttractive field
for business investments and honest labor.
Our naturalization laws should be SO amended
as to make the inquiry into the char acter and
good disposition of persons applying for citizen
laws have been in their administration an un-
Impressive Eand often an untelligible
FORM We accept the man as a citizen
without any knowledge of his fitness and he
assumes the duties of citizenship without
any knowledge as to what they are. The priv
leges OF the American citizenship are great
and its duties so grave that We may well insist
on good knowledge OF every person applying
for citizenship and a good knowledge by him of
our Institutions We should not cease to be
h0spitable to immigration, but we should cease
to be careless as to the character OF it. There
ing is necessarily burden upon our public
revenues a threat to social order. These
should be identified and ex luded.
We have happily maintained policy Of avoid
ing all interference with European affairs. We
have been only interested spectators of their
contenti MS in diplomacy and war, ready to use
our friendly Omces to promote peace but never
obtruding our advice and never attemptin un-
fairly to coin the distresses Of other powers in
to commercial advantage to ourselves. We
have just right to expect that our European
policy will be the American policy Of