Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1895-04-05
LOCAL SENTIMENT.

1t is somewhat embarrassing for GovernC
Morrill, to uphold the majesty of the law in
community where "local sentiment" is who'll
against him. When the "solid business men
of a town turn their opera house over to prize
fighters and over-awe the sheriff by the grandeu
of their solidity, they put the governor in
delicate position. Really, the state of affairs
quite interesting Kansas City Star.
If that means anything, it implies that citi
zens of Cherokee county are open and defan
law-breakers. Hasn't this idea that ''1oca
sentiment shall determine whether laws shal
be observed or broken gone to the verge of tn
danger line?
Anarchy means the absence of law; no more
no less. On the 18th day of January last, thu
last biennial message sent to the Kansas legis
lature, in referring to a portion of the constitu
ton and statutes Of Kansas, contained the fol
lowing singular and significant language:
That the law is but imperfectly enforced is
conceded by all. Law is but a reflection Of
public sentiment, and the enforcement of law
will depend upon the action of the people.
EXPERIENCE HAS FULLY DEMONSTRATED THAT
THE ENFORCEMENT OF ANY LAW IN OPPOSITION
TO THE PRONOUNCED SENTIMENT OF THE COM
MUNITY CANNOT LONG BE SUCCESSFULLY AC-
COMPLISHED. Whenever the people in any
community demand the enforcement of law,
"their voice will be heard" WITHOUT THE
SUPPORT OF PUBLIC SENTIMENT, THE EFFORT
OF THE OFFICERS TO ENFORCE THE LAW WILL
NOT BE CROWNED WITH SUCCESS. All laws
ought to be enforced, for the open violation Of
any law is demoralizing to the public
1t breeds disregard for law which is dangerous
to any community. In this country the law is
supreme. 1t is the governing power, and a dis
regard of the law is a disregard of the govern
ment itself. A continuation of the open viola
ton of any law can only result in evil to the
state. The duty of every officer is plain. 1t is
the duty of the executive to obey and enforce it.
These words are not quoted from a speech
by Herr Most they are not clipped from the
resolutions of brewers and distllers' conven-
tion but are taken, word for word from the
message Gov. Morrill's sent to the Legislature
language means anything honestly ineligible,
it signifies that the prohibitory amendment and
the laws made to carry it into effect are dead
letter in every municipality i'll Kansas where
''the pronounced sentiment" is against it. To
cap the climax, the message goes on to say,
be. 1t is the duty of the executive to obey and
enforce it." That is to say, "This law cannot
be enforced if you fellows do not like its pro-
visions, but it is my duty to enforce it. Whom
do you fellows want to select to enforce the
law in such a manner as to please the pro-
nounced sentiment against the law?"
Anarchy could not do much worse. Anarchy
SAYS openly that law shall be destroyed. The
message virtually said: cit is my duty to en-
force the law, but, of course, if the majority OF
you people are opposed to the law, it cannot
long be successfully accomplished though l
have taken solemn oath to obey the constitu-
ton and execute the laws" That is equivalent
to saying that ''the constitution of Kansas is a
rope of sand the oath of office is judicial
fiction and the statutes are made to reach the
poor devils in the rural districts, where Sunday
schools are still in use, but they do not apply
in elite society, where the pronounced senti'
ment is in favor of aw-breakers."
Is it any wonder that prize-fght in Chero
kee county proceeded under the local-sentimen
cloak woven so dextrously into the warp anc
woof of the governors message?
What an infamous surrender to the very doc
trine that brought on the rebellion in 1861
What close parallel that heresy is to that o