The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-06-17
THE NICHOLSON LAW AND GOOD CIT
IZENSHIP.

in Indiana, and the number will be in
creased by the taking effect in a few
days OF 16S laws passed by the last Leg
islature. 1t is the duty of all good citi-
zens to obey all of these laws and the
duty Of the proper authorities to see that
they are enforced. This being the case,
it seems somewhat surprising that such
exceptional prominence should be given
to any one law as is now being given to
the so-called Nicholson law by its oppo-
nents antsupporters. respectively. Even
before the law is In force it is announced
on the one hand that it's enemies have
raised a large sum OF money for the
purpose of fighting it, while on the other
We have Good Citizens League spring
ing up all over the State for the express
and exclusive object of enforcing it. AS
If in order to give emphasis to this
movement the author of the Nicholson
bill has been made president Of the
league, and some of his recent express
sions seem to indicate that he regards
membership in the league as the test of
good citizenship.
ponents of the Nicholson law to fight il
the Journal knows nothing beyond COM
mon rumor. 1t has no doubt that the
sum reported to have been raised for
the purpose is ridiculously exaggerated,
but even If they had raised ten times
as much they are reported to have
done their action would be perfectly
Tonr
tack the law in the courts with view
of testing it's constitutionality. The
courts are open to all classes of citizens,
and any person. class or organization
has a perfect right to bring any law to
the test of judicial decision as 70 its
constitutionality. There is nothing rev.
dictionary in that. and. so far from
being in itself a mark of bad citizenship,
it is the contrary. To attack a law in
the courts is the American way. The
Journal dismisses as unworthy of re-
spectful consideration the intimation
conveyed by innuendo in Mr. Nicholson's
communication printed on Saturday that
it is the intention Of opponents of the
law to use part of the large sum they
are said to have raised in corrupting the
Supreme Court. That sort of talk should
be left to Populist orators. The very
suggestion is an insult to the court and
savors of an attempt to influence it's de-
cision in advance. 1T can hardly be
expected" says Mr.. Nicholson, that
they intend for the lawyers to consume
all the money where a much smaller
sum would suffice. We shall see what
we shall see.'' 1t is to be hoped we shall
see the Supreme Court render a just
and fearless decision of all questions
brought before it without regard to in
situations of corruption.
The Journal must also respectfully
protest against the apparent disposition
of the president of the Good Citizens
League to claim that it's members are
1--WE, the People" They are part of the
people, but SO are brewers, distillers.
saloon keepers and patrons of saloons.
In our zeal for righteousness as we see
it let us not forget that this is popu-
lar government, that in the eye of the
law all citizens are equal, and that diff
ferences of opinion do not justify any
organization in arrogating to itself a
monopoly of good citizenship.
There are times when the formation of
vigilance committees or special organi-
cations for the enforcement Of law are
justified, but unless absolutely neces-
sary they are to be deprecated. because
they virtually admit condition with
which the regularly constituted authori-
ties are unable to cope. Attempts to Sc
cure the enforcement of law by extraor-
binary methods generally lead to re-
taliatory measures. and always beget
bad blood and neighborhood strife. 1t
ought not to be assumed in advance that
the Nicholson law will be attacked or
resisted in any other than legitimate
way, or that those who are charged
with the enforcement Of the law and
who have been elected by the people
for that purpose will fail in their duty
to such an extent as to require special
kind Of public sentiment and organiza-
ton to secure it's enforcement. The
best form of good citizenship is that
which demands the honest enforcement
of all laws and which Dresumes that
every man will do his duty.
Another development Of what might be
called the spasmodic enforcement of law
appears in the announcement that the
Mayor and This cabinet" have recently
held a consultation and formulated a
construction" of the Nicholson law. de-
Gliding what will be permitted and what
not. There is nothing in the city char
ter or the Nicholson law giving the
Mayor and his cabinet any such author
ity. The law says County Commission
ers shall issue licenses for the sale of
liquors under certain conditions. If a
person violates his license he is liable to
arrest, and if he thinks he is wrongfully
arrested he can carry the case to the
Supreme Court and have the question
settled The authority To construe laws
rests with the courts. and ii is an I'M
heard-of thing for officers charged with
the enforcement of law to undertake to
construe them in advance ands decide
what they will permit and what they
will not permit.
THE SILVER BULLION POOL.
1t should cause no surprise that the