The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-05-01
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OH~fRA . rHt LAW
Law is n rule OF action laid down 10y
rropor authority. commenting what is
right and forbidling what is wrong
The object OF an human law rs 10 pre-
scribe and impose duties, TO create and
define rights. ard TO enforce the observ-
ance Of both Ina popular government
such as that II the United States the
pcople. through the agency OF certain
nsrsons chosen by themselves. make the
laws OF the land. prescribe the penalties
fer violation. and establish the methods
bv which the guilty shall be discovered
and punished ltthey are not satisfied
with their own definition Of right and
wrong. or with the penalty they es-
tablished Tor Noncompliance with law,
or not sat SIZED with the methods they
themselves established Tor discovering
and Furnishing those who violate law
the remedy is in their own hands, and
the definition may be changed, the pun
ishment increased or decreased, and
other means Of enforcing the law
adopted. therefore,, it seems fair 70
assume that any given Law which has
been on our statute books for any length
of time has had up 10 the present the
approval Of a majority Of the people.
The stability Of any government the
prosperity and good order Of any com
munity. depend entirely upon the gen
eral observance Of law, and the punish
ment and prevention Of lawlessness.
And the obligation Of conformity is none
the less binding upon every citizen be-
cause times are hard. Fit is crime
70 commit murder when times are pros
porous and money plentiful, II is equally
a crime TO commit murder when times
are hard and money scarce. II It would
be in violation OF law for q company Of
men 20 capture O railway train and
compel q railway company to carry them
10 a given destination 10 boom times, IT
is the same violation Of the same law DO
panicky times, unless the law has been
changed by the proper lawmaking body
established and chosen by the people
themselves. II IL is right for a body
Of men to confscate aud appropriate %
their own uses the private property Of
railroad corporation worth millions Of
dollars, would ituot beright FOR a smaller
body Of men 90 oonhscate and approTri-
ate 10 their own uses the private prop
erty Of corporation worth only hun
dreds OF thousands: Carrying the ar
gument a little further, would 10 not be
right for ten men 10 c0nfscate aud APP
propriate 70 their own uses the private
property OK a corporation or an indivil-
ual worth tens Of thousands? Would 10
not be right FOR one man 70 conhscats
and appropriate 20 his own uses any
thing Of value belonging 20 any body
Mistakes that may DO made 10 the
execution Of good law 90 not justify
lawlessness. There are orderly and
peaceful methods for rightIng the
wrongs done through error. As infsiI-
blity is not an attribute % human ma
ture il is too much 20 expect that all
officers shall 90 all times be absolutely
free from max ny mistukes SO man in
the pursuit ~ hls daily vocation enjoys
such exemption. IL au officer is too
frequently bon error in the performance
% his duties, he may be removed; II the
people become dissatisfied with the du-
ties they have ordained for an officer 20
perform, they can eas.ly change those
duties or abolish tho office; and those
things may be- done peacefully and ia
good order