The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-12-19

Mark Twain is philosopher as well as
humorist He said The other day in
court that every citizen was an unclassl-
fed policeman il was u wise saying and
il is pity that all citizens do not heed
IT. 1t is not enough that a citizen obey
the law. I4e must be, as well, cham
pion and u defender Of the law. He is in
ing Others obey the law No honorable
man wants to be put in the position of
spy or informer, but ii is the plai" duty
of the iaw-abiding citizen TO report all in
fractions OF the law that come under his
notice and to aid in bringing the guilty
20 justice.
When a citizen catches thief. shall
,ae in mercy let the thief go TO prey upon
others2 Or shall he IN Justice turn him
over TO the officers of the law
When a bank officer ascertains that one
OF the banks ,rusted employees has been
robbing the institution. shall he wink at
the theft and tell the thief to go and sin
no more? Or shall he report the robbery
TO the authorities and let the Inv take
its course
When merchant finds tfaat he has been
systematically robbed by one OF his sales
men. shall he through fear Of giving Of
fense and losing trade simply discharge
the thief and hold his peace? Or shnll he
do his defy an honest man and an hon
ast citizen and bring the thief TO justice?
These are questions for serious consld-
grafton. Society must be protected against
all classes OF evii-doers. and in order to
secure this those who violate the INV
must be apprehended and punished as a
warning to others. else we might as we'll
tear our statutes into shreds and let an
archy have its sway Society must rot
suffer itself 10 be dominated by sentiment
tally in m:tters of SO grave a character
Society cannot afford to wink at crime and
moral and statutory Law. The law IS a
dead letter unless its penalties be en-
forced.
When crime IS oonioncd, when criminals
are whitewashcd and lionized, society
puts a premium upon crime and encour-
ages men and women TO disregard all law.
a, is morbid sentiment indeed, that
condemns a citizen Tor handing over to
justice trusted employe who has day in
and day out for an Indefinite period
robbed him Of his possessions Such thefts
are double effense, for they are rob
berry and abuse Of confidence in one.
We do rot mean to be harsh, but we dc
mean TO be plain. We mean TO say ,hnt il !
as scarcely less than criminal 10 condone
crime, and we mean to say that the citi- |
zen who has been robbed is in duty bound
TO report the robbery 10 the authorities ,
and bring the thief into court, If appre-
nended: and we say, moreover. that the
citizen who does this is 20 be commended
and not condemned for discllarSing tbs
plain duty of citizenship.
Finally. what is our police Justice 10 do
when a person Is brought before HIN and
pleads guilty 20 the charge CT deliberate
and repeated thefts? is he 20 violate his
oath OF office and lei such oarzon go |
scot free2 Is lie 10 l,ali.ate The o:TeGse by
imposing u slight :,,e" We say 10. In |
the name OF 3Rsuce. IAN ahG oTaer ana
society, We say 40. lie mus, do his duty |
before God ard man AID mete out exact |
Justice 10 ali. Irrespective OF their s>sso- |
Cations and the. standing in society. He |
must punish c,.sne as he finds it in his |
court without respect of persons. John |
cratchte2d Is 4 fearless Judge and a tey- |
FOR 10 eril-doers, his heart is warm. hut
he knows his duty aad he does no, let |
sentiment blind ...m to it. The city is
fortunate 10 have such a man on the
bench, ul,a he deserves ,he respect and |
praise OF The community cer standing up
fearlessly and ,,nconpromsinSly in be-
half OF law lad order, !
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