The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-01-07
OTHER PEOPLES NOTIONS
How Minneapolis Was Redeemed.

How Minneapolis Was Redeemed.
To the Editor Of The journal:
Some ten years ago T h e ] o II n a l
published symposium" upon 1.-THE Need
Of the Times am not at all sure that
this was the exact title, but such at least
was the theme Of the contribution.
The intervening years have erased from
my memory everything connected with
this symposium except the thought ex-
pressed by a single writer, James J. Hill
or St Paul. Then, as now, Mr.. Hill filed
a large space In the public eye, but 1t was
not his prominence which caused his con
tribution to be fixed in my memory
through these years.
Mr.. Hill said in substance ''The cry
ing need Of the times is the enforcement
OF law. Not the enforcement Of some
laws or of any particular law as some
political boss or venial executive might
elect, but the enforcement Of each and
every law upon the statute books Of city,
state or nation, and that without dis
examination as to persons or effects. 50
It is not my purpose to speculate as
to the cause for this utterance upon the
part Of Mr.. Hill, at that time, nor to
comment upon it's relation to current
events, but may say with emphasis that
few Weightier and no truer words have
ever been spoken. It but adds to our APP
probation Of the astuteness and keen in
sight of this very able man, that he should
so tersely sum up the need not only of the
day In which he spoke but of all times.
The occurrences Of the past two years
and the imminent change of adn1inistra-
lions bring home to us with force the les
son OF these words. The enforcement of
law Is the very. essence of constitutional
government. It is liberty itself-freedom
ep1tomized. When a petty official, whether
in an executive chair or in courts Of law,
hot 1o@r oSI -
matter how insignificant, then despotism
has seized the reins of government and
no man y is safe. Such a condition is
worse than despotism; it is anarchy. The
call of these times and OF all times. of
this community and of all communities is
for men-men who will enforce the law as
they find it, not as they desire it to be;
men Of courage over whom the voice Of
expediency has no control It was expedi
ency which defeated w. J. Dean and
elected Ames and it was expediency which
erldeavored to stop his prosecution. In
the midst of it's Shame it must have
heartened the people of Minneapolis to find
that 1t had one municipal officer-say two
for whom the cry of expediency had no
Jones and E. f.. Waite, are not perfect
Perhaps they have not enforced every
law and ordinance, but they have certainly
given the people of Minneapolis an earn
est Of their desire to do their whole duty.
They stand pre-eminent in this respect
among executive heads of American NUM-
cipalities. All honor to their names. If
Minneapolis has shown to the world how
a great city may be abased it has also
shown how it may be redeemed and ex-
allied by the conscientious performance Of
euty. f'z-s-" =.
Certainly the events Of the past two
years teach a lesson Of great moment to
the incoming administration. Enforce the
laws each and every one of them, with
out fear or favor, without prejudice or dis
elimination, no matter how disagreeable
or undesirable; to the end that vicious
and unwise laws may be repealed, respect
for all law increased; so that Minneapolis
may be redeemed and stand before all the
world as a. model Of municipal honesty.
1t has been done--it can be done again.
: " =. John S. Hughes.