The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-12-10
FxCEssIyF LEGISLATION.


ing the anti football bill takes occasion
to emphasize some Of the cardinal prin-
clples of Republican government. which
legislators will do well to consider.
LEGISLATION Of this class" says he
leads to innumerable petty and vexa-
tious criminal laws regulating the most
trivial affairs OF life, depriving the par
ont of the authority to control his child
and robbing tho citizen Of that degree of
liberty which should be the heritage OF
every son OF the republic"
We have tried TO impress this same idea
not only in dealing with the football
question, but also in combating COM
pulsory education. Every man must be
the lord OF his own household, and when
ever the government assays to interfere In
the matter of family discipline. then the
most sacred rights Of American citizen
ship are outrageously infringed. AL
ready" says Governor Atkinson, 'many
intelligent Americans who have travelled
abroad are seriously contendng that the
tyranny of the majority is worse than the
rule of a monarch and that the multiple
city of laws in America regulating the
habits and conduct Of men have left to
the individual here less rights, less free
dom. than Is possessed by the citizen Of
a European monarchy"
And he adds:
The majority has the power TO do much
which IT has not the right to do. There
are many things not approved by the
majority which are not proper subjects
of legislation.
IL the game Of football seriously inter-
feres with the welfare of society and IN
ficts injuries upon others of character
which public opinion will not obviate or
correct. legislation should then go just
so far as may be necessary to remedy the
the wrong but no further. The right or
| a parent to say what games his boy snail
play should not be questioned or disturb
| ed until demanded by imperative necessi-
| ~. The humblest citizen of this state
| should be secured in his right to control
his own child, and say in what games he
| may be permitted to engage. Football
causes less deaths than hunting, boating,
fishing, horseback riding, bathing or bicy'
cling. If we are to engage IN legislation
| of this character now under discussion.
the State shsould assume the position or
parent forbid all these sports TO boys
make It a penal offense for boy TO en-
gage in any Of them, and for any parent
to permit his child TO engage in them.
The government should not usurp all the
authority of the parent. Yet this legis-
lation is a long stride in that direction.
1t may be that some legislation is neces-
If not .lr4n
games, but that species Of legislation
which seeks to usurp the responsibility
and functions Of trustees, faculty and
parent and take charge OF young men and
| children in their sports is fundamentally
wrong; II is governmental paternalism
of the most vicious and pronounced type.
We can occasionally recur with profit TO
| that wise adage which Is really aXioma-
| tic. THAT government governs best
which governs least.
That sort of talk is refreshing and re-
assuring. The game of football Is a
trifing matter. but the principle involved
,s of prime Importance. The spirit of So
cialism and paternalism is rampant in
this country and the class OF people VINO
want the business affairs of the country
controlled and carried on by government,
| and who want the conduct Of individuals
| regulated by government, has grown into
| alarming proportions.
We resent and resist all such encroach-
ments wherever and whenever we IND
them. We stand for constitutional liberty
and American manhood. We respect the
| government and we believe in maintain
| ing the law. But we insist that the gov
ernment shall confine its operations with
in the sphere which the constitution pre-
sorlbes and that 1t shall not cross the
line of personal liberty as Defined by the
| founders OF the republic.
One OF the most convincing arguments
against mob law that we have ever seen
was contained in Governor Atkinson's
| late message to the Legislature. We
onoted from Il at the time and COM
| mended II as 1t deserved.
Rut while the Governor Is most pro-
| nounced in the view that ell rtghtfui laws
| must he maintained, he is equally pro-
| nounced in the view that all legislation
that Enthusiastically trespasses upon indi-
| vidual rights is to be discouraged and
discountenanced. All law-abiding citizens
and all the sons Of liberty owe him vote
Of thanks.