The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-12-26
KOS AND THE CURFEw
He Says it Is a Retrogressive Law Against
the Spirit OF l. berry.


Kos Harris, like a bold knight, has
rushed to the side Of DR.. ]. W. Shuts,
and under the banner of the councilman
from the Second ward will fight the cur
few ordinance. In tracing the geneol-
ogv of the curfew idea Mr.. Harris writes
as follows:
'Couvrefew is the original word, and
if ii is desired to trace the origin of that
police regulation it might properly be
named. The reminiscence of the brutal
policy of Norman king, who complete
~ overthrow a conquered people after
a bloody season Of rapine, plunder, muir
der and arson, established a Spanish in
QUESTION resulting in the historical relic
known as the 'Dooms Day Book. Coeing
a tax collectors register, the items in
which were subject TO increase, but not
to any reduction-) Next the adoption
Of the feudal law; then the creation Of
a creation, called Chief Justice who
was In reality assistant to the king, and
lastly, the conQueror brought over the
French system Of police power, regula-
ton and inquisition The French idea
Of police supervision from the genesis
of history, owns no superior, admits no
equal, and even the Spanisrd and Rus
sian bow in reverence to the French the
bowed to the project of Paris.
I'm tn time of William the Conqueror,
the curfew bell was not kid ordinance
BY this law the matron and maid, the
gray haired man and those in the full
strength of years, put out their lights
and fires and went to bed at O'Clock p.
m. This law was first enacted by the
Norman, prior to his conquest of Eng
rand, and was not only police reguia-
ton, but was an administrative scheme,
in England to prevent the English people
from assembling in secret to plan the
overthrow of the conqueror, and plot
treason against his government.
AT time in history when people had
no stoves, and the fire was in a hole in
the center of the main room, such a
regulation was salutary to prevent con-
flagrations, in fact, in some histories,
the 'curfew' is mentioned only in connec-
ton with precautions against fires after
night.
Notwithstanding, much may be said
regarding the evil effect of children on
the streets after night, the rumbling
hacks, between II o'clock and daylight,
speak of evils 'curfew' cannot reach,
and laws cannot remedy. Notwith-
standing the human impulses of the au-
thCrs of the curfew ordinance, the high
character of its advocates, / cannot but
believe that this is but the gradual I'M
folding of the idea that government by
law and by police regulation, is better,
more salutary, far-reaching and correct
i've than government by education.
morals and religion. This ordinance in
America Is the grandcbild Of the "Blue
Laws" twin sister of ''prohibitory leg
islstion," and full cousin of the n1yrid
schemes that in one guiSe or another,
are Continually forcing themselves into
notice. seeking TO establish the right and
power by ordinance law and constitu-
lions, to control the appetites. direct the
morals. and exercise a general supervis-
ion over the habits of a community which
represents all creeds and nationalities
and every hue, shade and color of opin-
ion in morals, politics, religion, political
economy and administrative and govern
mental policy.
This ordinance is not progressive, but
retrogressiye. 1t is one of the 'bou-
quets' presented by the conquesor to the
English nation when he determined To
GueIch not only liberty. but the spirit
of liberty, and this was wiped out by the
first English born king"