Omaha daily bee., 1895-07-31

We have nothing to do with mans likes
and dslkes Of a law. We did not swear to
obey the law provided every person was
pleased to have us do So There are but few
men In the penientiary who are pleased with
the law that sent them there. | cannot Join
with you governor, In your request to annul
the law IL would be the act OF a coward IL
| did. | never shrsnk from duty. no mat
ter how dsagreeable or dangerous II might
be-
FILINGS 1T BACK AT OMAHA.
Let us look for a moment at the history of
this law. The people Of Omaha are intell-
gent-they are presumed to know what
they wanted. They elected twelve good men
to the legislature. Those twelve men voted
for this law. 1t received more than a three
fifths vote in each house You vetoed it,
which you had a constitutional right to do.
You gave your reasons. no one Of which was
that 1t was unconstitutional. You returned
it, II was carefully considered and passed
over your veto by more than the requisite
three-ffihs vote.
1t was a matter purely local to the people
Of Omaha They asked for 1t.
Pardon me, governor, for my presumption,
but | think 1t comes with very bad grace for
you to impugn the motives of more than
three-tifths of the members OF the leglsa ure.
They we're honorable men; of them
could be swerved from his duty, either by
threats or bribery.
You say 'the prevailing opinion" was that
the law was not needed. My recollection is
that the opposite opinion prevailed. You
say: The present Board of Fire and Police
Commissioners declares its intention Of ex-
ercising the functions OF their Office under
the existing law until the validity of the
provisions of the law in question are deter
mined" Whoever said that said that they
proposed to defy the laws of the state OF
Nebraska.
Your duty Is plain. ! hope you will have
the courage and patriotism to do it.
Where are such threats to end? II one
set of men has right to say 1--WE will obey
| I'D 1,t,,
court has passed upon its validity then all
men have that right. No one knows better
than you that that is not the law. 1t is your
duty, as well as the most humble citizen. to
obey the law until the court has declared 1t
| invalid Any other course leads to anarchy.
| The law under which the present Board Of
| Fire and Police are acting expires on the list
| day of August by act of the legislature. Who is
! to say it does not? The man who is not
| pleased with it? No. The man who did not
| agree with the legislature politically? No.
WILLING TO SHED BLOOD.
| You ask me to join with you in your plan
\ of settlement, and you say the whole matter
| will be peaceably settled with dignity and
! decorum. No, governor, that would not do.
| No cringing coward was ever credited with
much dignity Much | deplore riot and
| bloodshed | would not avoid it at the expense
| of law.
Governor, this whole matter Is in your
| hands. If men are killed their blood will
be upon you. All you have to say to those
who would defy the law is that while you are
| governor of the state OF Nebraska you pro-
| pose to enforce the laws as you find them
| upon the statute book, until they have been
repealed by the legislature or annulled by
| the court. Tell them they have nothing
| to fear by obedience to the law.
| l will take no step with you in defiance of
| law, but l assure you | will join heartily
with you in bringing about an early decision
| as to the validity of this law as as pos
| sible after it goes into effect. In closing, let
me beg of you in the name of law-abiding
| citizens of the state of which we are all so
| proud, take step that will dscredit you. or
| discredit the state, or blacken the reputation
for peace and good order Of the metropolis of
| Nebraska.
| Let the man who would encourage anarchy
| know at once that there is no place in Ne
| braska for him. Let them know that you
are not here to defy the law. Now governor
| If | have said anything seemingly harsh. l
| beg your pardon, for | feel most deeply the
| gravity of the situation. Again assuring you
| of my support in the maintenance of law and
| order, am yours most respectfully,
H. C. RUSSELL,
| Commissioner Public Lands and Buildings.