The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-07-21
Government BY Police.

Alderman Gadsden declared at Tuesday {
meeting of council that II was useless 10 past
a police ordinance since the city had no pow,
err to enforce #, the police force being beyond
the control of the city. This Is a perfectly cor
rect view. 1t Is almost a waste OF tlme ioI
the city council to enact police ordinanGes aOl
there is no possible way in which lnelr en-
forcement can be guaranteed under tne pecuE
lar system of government which Evans anu
Ellerbe placed and holdu pon the CITY:
The state police under the rule OF Marsha
Marlin Ia supposed to enforce the city ordln,
ances. Indeed we believe they are INSTRUCTED
to en- force them. But II they iail 10 40 SO we
know of nothing the city can do 10 bring them
10 account. We are therefore. at the dictatlon
of our police marshal. The city council when
it passes police measures acts simply, IN an
advisory or suggestive capacity; ~ mas mas nc
executive function. 1t all rests with the
marshal OF police, and he may have other
things to do than enforce municipal ordinan'
ces. 1t is a nice state OF existence we ENJOY
under the beneticent reign Of Ellerbe by his
satrap Martin Charleston Post.
To one not acquainted with the facts, II
would seem that Charleston is a down-trod
den city.
II that paper had also said that several
citizens Of that metropolitan town were de-
MED their liberty and we're locked up behind
great iron bars, that too would seem 10 indi'
cate q fearful state OF affairs.
Dun dn q lhdbtCi VI law WV" Avn
best safeguard to liberty that SOM
men are LOCKED up. So the statement Of the
Post may indicate a necessity for the
presence Of the much despised metropolitan
police.
II our memory serves US correctly, the
newspapers Of Charleston boosted that the
dispensary law could not be enforced In that
city. If we are not in error again, the Charl'
eston newspapers defended the violators OF
the law and ridiculed the officers who were try
ing TO enforce 1t. Foreigners boldly assumed
10 disregard the law OF their adopted country
and the newspapers championed them In
their unlawfu conduct.
If we are not mistaken the violators of the
dispensary law have received no other atten'
tion from the newspapers OF Charleston than
the utmost kindness, with incidental en-
couragement in their unlawful conduct.
And If we are not mistaken again, the min
listers of the gospel of that city were held up
TO ridicule M were subjected to severe criti-
cism because they were %law-ablding citizens
themselves and desired to see other people re-
spect even the dispensary Law
Preachers ridiculed! Defiant foreigners up
held Is there any wonder a metropolitan
force is necessary?
Because OF the notification OF one OF the
most important laws of the Commonwealth
it becomes the duty Of the Governor of the
State to appoints metropolitan police force
10 see that the law was enforced in the good
old City by the Sea.
That police is a necessity to day, and the
Governor, If. he would be true to his duty
will keep that force in the city OF Charleston
until the gentlemen Of foreign birth, with
proclivities for dealing surreptitionsly in IL
quor, shall have learned to obey the laws OF
their adopted country.
1t is a bad thing to deprive a citizen Of his
liberty by locking him up. 1t may be a bad
thing TO have a metropolitan police. Blu
sometimes there is a necessity for ''bad
things"