The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1896-01-09

iuluioLIdLlOu WlUHlu our ~ AAOl
expect this much, and nothing less thar
this will be accepted as discharge Of
our duties. Our whole aim and purpose
should be the promotion of the city's
welfare by just and upright actions OF
our part, and no other motive should di
rect us. On the other hand we are emit
tied to the cooperation and sympathy OF
the good people of the city. 1t should
be their desire as much as ours to see
the city's affairs successfully managed,
and if they do not feel enthusiastic
enough to applaud our course, they GER
tainly ought not to criticise until they
know we are wrong and they are right
1t is one thing to object to what is being
done, but very different thing to offer
something better. The success or fail
ure of our administration is largely with
US, but this can be greatly accelerated in
either direction by the support or oppo-
sition we receive from the good people
of the city. l am sure that they will, at
least, give us fair and impartial trial.
The enforcement of existing laws is
paramount in Importance to the enact
ment of new ones. 1t may not be neces-
sary during our terms to make many
new laws, doubtless the field has been
largely covered in the previous years,
but unless we fairly enforce the flaws in
existence, our administration will fail in
one of its most important purposes.
The preservation of order is foremost
among the reasons for city government,
and the success achieved on this line is
measured by the manner in which its
laws are enforced, and not by the num-
Der of laws on the statute book. We
may have whole code of laws, and still
we will live in confusion and disorder
unless they are enforced. / have been
taught to believe that it is the certainty
OF punishment, rather than heavy penal
ties occasionally imposed, that deters
crime. So long as the vicious feel that
they have equal chances of escaping pun
ishment, just as long will crime abound.
Let them know that the violation of law
means certain punishment, and we will
have law-abiding community. The
suppression of crime is more desirable
than its punishment, but this can be ac-
complished only by convincing the vi
cious inclined that punishment is the
sure reward for crime. Do this, and you
will either reform them or they will
leave rs for more congenial atmos-
phere.
presume that all our ordinances are
wise and proper, and it may be that we
need others, but will be pardoned fol
| mentioning in this connection a few on
which l think special stress should be
laid. Indecent and disorderly conduct
on the streets should not be tolerated.
If persons will debauch themselves by
drunkenness or oullanguage, they should
go to the woods where they will not
annoy and disgust decent people. The
public should understand that the stress
| or the city are not race courses. hut be.
long to the city, and they 1shaGld be
places where our wives and children can
go with absolute safety.
Ii there is any one ordinance on our
book that, in public estimation, over
shadows all others, it is the one against
the whiskey traffic. More than ten
years ago, the good people said that this
traffic must cease in this community. I
believe the sentiment to day is the same
it was then. 1t is an evil that society
can protect itself against in only one Of
two ways-either suppress it or control
it. If we had the power, l doubt not
but what we could sell the whiskey
privileges of this city for couple of
thousand dollars, and name our own
regulations controlling it. But our peo-
pie say they prefer supporting the treas
ury directly from their pockets rather
than raise the money in this way-they
say they are opposed to bartering the
happiness of innocent women and chill
dren and the future of their boys for
little tax money. And so long as this
sentiment prevails, and existing laws re-
main, the duty of those in power cannot
be mistakened. SO long as it cannot be
sold lawfully, it should not be sold lille
gally. While the people are endeavor-
ing to suppress it, it must not overrun
the town. For one, 1 believe it can be
suppressed to great extent, but it can
not be done by one man. The Mayor
can't do it; the Council can't do it: mar
shals can't do it who sympathize with
or 'patronize the illegal traffic. The
work can be efficiently done by the unit
ed efforts of Mayor, Council and Mar
shals who will do their duty, backed by
the support of the good people of the
city. 1t is requiring great deal to ex-
pect two or three marshals to catch all
the law-breakers among four thousand
people, and they can be greatly aided in
their work by the cooperation of good
cltlZens. 1t sometimes happens that we
hear of people who claim to know
great deal, have much to say about what
is and is not done, but who would not
mention the fact to an officer if they
were to find tiger under their wood
shed. This kind of zeal is more hurtful
than helpful. If they know or suspect
violation, they ought to report it to the
officers, and if they are not willing to do
this much they ought not to criticize,
for some might question their sincerity.
declare to you my readiness to do all
that is in my power to suppress this evil
and am sure that 1 will have your
hearty cO-ODeratiOn