The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1889-07-18
Don't Muzzle the Mayor.

This week we publish communica-
ton from our townsman, DR.. II. s. Full
lerton. The Doctor speaks pathetically
OF the inconvenience which would result
from muzzling the Mayor, and appeals
through the pen-picture which he draws,
to the excited feelings Of our chief ex-
ecutive to have mercy on his dog-not
his neighbor's dog or flower bed, but
that dog which is necessary adjunct to
Ave boys in family. But the Doctor Is
too sentimental. II he would really be
impressive and desires to speak by the
card, let him adjust barb.wire basket
on the Mayors frontispiece. Under such
conditions as these, the Mayors exper-
ience would be thrilling, either as re.
hearsal or in print, and we know Of no.
better pen than the Doctors to give it
readable arrangement. But in addition
to the Doctors wit, we have another citi-
zen's request in this issue with serious
language, If not serious face, urging
meeting OF the people to stimulate our
officials to the enforcement OF the law
as to the muzzling Of dogs. Now 1t will
be quite evident to all who will read
both communications the different
standpoints occupied by the different
| writers.
In nearly every case there exists the
grave and gay point Of view, and also
the light and serious way Of disposing of
a subject. It certainly would be foolish
to wear crepe in anticipation Of disaster
which exists only in ones imagination,
and it would also show a degree Of
thoug htfulness akin 10 folly to treat with
Indifference subject where real danger
exists, or even the strong probability Of
the existence Of real danger. Now we
consider it neither wise nor profitable to
indulge in long, lingering look on the
sombre hue Of any subject; but 1t GER
tainly is wise and it should be profitable
to look at the everyday actions Of life
in fair, manly and ,itmight be said ,busi.
ness.like way. Now it is not the iiten-
ton to use levity and insist that wire
screen be placed over the Mayors face,
and thinking OF his woeful condition
when so hampered, pity any yaller dog
who wears a basket. Neither would we
lower our voice and with cautious tread
and in whispered accents tell Of some
ones aunt who was bitten by dog and
died terrible death from hydrophobia.
But the practical-and we may say the
every.day--way oflooking at this subject
is, is there any rule.in reference to this
matter, and what is it? What is the
duty Of the citizen, every citizen, as to
his obedience to the law? Is it the
duty OF the citizen to watch with care.
full eve that their servants, the officers,
perform their sworn duties? And what
should besthe governing motive with
officials-the enforcement of the law ac-
cording to the letter, or the indications
which he may be able to gather from
public opinion or perchance what he
may be able to gather as to how laws
or ordinances are looked upon and en-.
forced in other places?
The first two or three OF these ques-
tions are easily answered. There is law
on the subject AMI there is proclalna.
ton calling attention to the law. But
the law is not obeyed. Neither is the
proclamation needed. Why? Because
the people Of this corporation are peo'
pie WHO do hot honor the Jaw No, No
but because OF the difficulty of eniorc.
ing any law on the statute books, by a
sovereign people, which is not of vital
importance. Thisis one OF the recognized
weaknesses OF Democratic form OF gov.
ernment. The people being the sover
eign power can make and unmake any
law. This being true OF the whole, the
principal is too often stretched, and an
effort made to construe it, as being true
when only a part is concerned. Do you
object to this deduction How else
will the brazen fact that two.thirds oi
the dogs in this town are to-day roaming
the streets and alleys without protest
from the officers (save through printed
proclamation) or without muzzle.
Our logic is, and it is based partly on
what we hear and see, that quite num-
ber OF people do not care d-n for the
law II they can escape the penalty and
more than one man or two men or three
men and dogs can be found in Hillsboro
to testify to this statement. Believing
it to be not only within the province Of
the public press, but an absolute duty
OF the press to strike boldly and fear
lessly against any practice or wrong thai
has tendency to weaken the authority
of law or cause the effort put forth by
our officer to become by-word or {
subject of derision, the press should
insist that every law be obeyed
and that the law should b'
obeyed by every citizen. The law il