The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-04-03
One Ordinance, Deract.

O0e SFGindNCS DCt 'Cls
In this sra Of iyinerang CoXeys it is
most inopportuue for any honest muni.
eipal executive to encourage lawles5
assomblages No matter what may be
the ostensible purpose Of mass meet
ing, its real character is bound to 10
dangerous when the couv0catiou is
based, openly, and in a spirit OF brava-
do. upon a violation OF the law. Those
social elements that are attracted by
curiosity and love Of mischief to the
location Of an expected iniraction OF
tho law are dangerous elements. that
menaco the public welfare aud consti-
tuts a most serious problem in the
government Of our growing Giles. 1t
is not necessary, in time OF general
peace. for any honest American, or for
any number Of honest Americans, to
encroach upon the public rights in or
dor to secure public hearing FOR cher
ishqd doctrines The liberty Of free
speech should not deteriorats into s
license. Ii should not be monopoii24d
by any one speaker or any one class. at
the expense Of the equal rights Of
others.
IN the casewhich was adjulicated yes
terday morning before Judges Arch
bald aud Edwards, upon appeal from
the mayors court, 1t should be noted
that the decision rendered gave no
sanction to lawless congregations. An
evangelist calling himself tho Cow
boy Preacher had, without license or
compunction, sought 10 se.zs aud ap-
propriate, for a time, ons OF the most val
uabie and Travelled portions Of the city's
principal thoroughtare. Had, be illeg-
ally entered upon and seiz9d possession
Of a citizens store or lawn or home, de-
claring his purpose to retain his forci.
bic ownership for limited time, it
would have constituted IN reality, il
not in technicality, smaller ofanse
than was hia defiant seizure of the
property Of many persons who give to
the city, in trust for the public, the
right to occupy percentage Of their
land az streets, for the commanity's
use. This Illegal seizure, when brought
n a courteous manner to the evangel-
SITS attention, was not apoiogiZs1 for,
Il that spirit Of frank regret which the
good Ci.izsn invariably manifests whom
Informed of an unwitting diso0edieuce
Of law, cut was, on the direct contrary,
loudly and boastfully defended. The
demeanor Of the o'called minister was
scornful, naughty and indicative of n
vengetul spirit. 1t is even asserted that
he threatened to smash" the officer Of
the law whom the free suffrage Of our
citizens chose to preside over he city's
highest court; and it is not in doubt that
lis language since has been, upon oc-
:asions, loud, bosterous and ILL bacom,
ng either minister Of the gospel or
my other gentleman.
lsuntortuuately happened that sec
ton 0l6 Of the city ordinance, under
which the Cowboy Preacher" and his
wife made themselves amenable to ar
rest, provides no punishment. The
officer who psrceives a congregation
which blocsades the public channels Of
passage may endeavor to remove the
obstructing cause by words OF admoai.
ton; and in case his warning is not
sufficient, he is empowered to arrest
those responsible for the obstruction
and bring them before the mayor. But
under this particular section the mayor
is unfortunately not invested vii
tho power OF summary commitment
Under the authority Of another section,
which by inference covers teis ,asn, but
which the court yesterday decided is
not sufficient warrant the mayors Of
Scranton have hitherto been accus.
toned, when the circumstances seemed
to justify it. TO- impose a fine Of not
less than 81 nor more than y}) to.
gether with the costs. Hereafter, uu-
til councils order an amendment, the
power OF arrest for obstructing the
streets will carry with it no power of
subsequent punishment; and in cases
where the defendants take deliberate
delight in wrong doing, it will be pos
sible to have streets blockaded indelin.
itsly.
Councils alone possess the remady
and they should not postpone its earn
cot application.