St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-04-14
in DEFENSE.
A Democrat Comes to the Rescue
of the Administration.
mo Tho E6itor ~ tho Globo

A Democrat Comes to the Rescue
of the Administration.
To the Editor of the Globe.
l admit that the GLOBE is doubtless
much better informed than am in ref
erence to any apparent necessity for
defense of our city administration. L
am not at all advised that those who
constitute the active forces of this adj
miniStratiOn care for defense, or need
1t, in fact. The GLOBE has for years
past been playing upon the terms ire
trenchment and REFORM" and, as | I'M
derstand its humor, poking not little
fun at those who were operating with
entire success. as the people appear to
have regarded it, the most important
items of the public service, the tax
levy and its expenditure, with yearly in
crease each recurring year. The people
have certainly not desired good govern
capacity. If they have not the capacity
they may deserve commiseration; but
Democrat must not doubt their capacity.
They have, it is true, sometimes elected
some f our most reputable citizens to
office; but then have failed to support
them in proper discharge of their
official duties. This has been so es-
peclally with our mayors. They APP
pear to have willed that this officer
should serve more as figure
head, more lin mock than mark in
respect to official efficiency. With our
present mayor, one of our most respect
able citizens, it has been '.if he does
he is damned; if he doesn't he is
damned;" so, it appears, he was elected
fore-ordained to be damned, without
much reference to his official power. l
think he has given service equal to his
opportunities. 1t may be truly said that
his authority is ''inuch alternate. and
of maintaining order and the enforce
ment of law. He cannot levy nor ex-
pend revenue for any purpose. He may
recommend or approve what another
body, not under his control at all, may
do or propose. But he is not vested
with compulsory power. The only pos
tive pow ers vested in his Office, beyond
the aforenamed. are, to sit in his Office
at his pleasure, and draw his salary as
provided by law.
We may observe that it is an easy
matter to find fault of an officer of linn
tied authority and power; much easier
than to ''shun profane and vain Babb-
lings, which increase unto more ungod-
liness." If any of our people know of
lawlessness, it is their duty as goo d citi-
zens to make due complaint to the au-
hority invested with punitive as well
as with inquisitOrial power. The great
peace officer of our city government is
the judge of our municipal court. He
is vested with power. not only to issue
writs, adjudicate complaints, etc., in
ordinary proceedings, but also to frame
writs and make orders necessary
and proper to enforce the laws
in good faith by all officers
subordinate to his authority, having
anything to do with persons arrested
for or charged with offenses within his
cognizance. But even this officer,
clothed with the immense power vested
in his Office, may not invade the per-
sonal rights of others, nor authorize
other officers to dose; for if they should
make serious mistake, however we'll
founded they might think their suspic-
ions, they would incur serious RESPONSE
bilitY, even personal peril, for unlawful
entrance upon the premises within the
right of exclusive occupancy of private
individuals. Private rights are within
the protection of law, and must be re-
Spected by all officers, aud an occupant
may oppose force to force, as may be
necessary to enforce a reasonably
speedy expulsion of trespasser. An
officer may not, on pretense of official
duty. become violator of law; and if
he does. under color of his Office, he
only deserves harsher treatment In ex-
pulsion. If he becomes participant in
an offense, even to entrap another, he
should be punished with more severity.