The Washington times., 1904-04-10

IS this true where the law Is not made
for the citizen, but where the citizen
makes the law. If "A number OF men
unite in a partnership on equal terms.
undoubtedly the majority should control
and the minority submit TO their judg-
ment or quit the partnership.
Ours is a government of the people, by
s&s people, and for the people. The UNI
SS-lying principle Of republican insti-
stutiOns is equality. Each man is en-
titled to one vote ard no more. One
mans vote is as gOOo and no better
than another's. Never. however, look
upon IL as property, something for bar
ter and sale. 1t should be 10 every true
American like the water of life, with
out money and without price This rule
OF equality is the basic principle of our
political life. however short we may
come OF realizing IL.
Still a Living Truth.
The Declaration of Independence is
sun living and glowing truth and not
a mere chrome OF dead though glitterlng
generaiities. According to this, the ma
jority determine and make the law and
the minority must obey or go elsewhere.
In our thought there is no place for
resistance to law or for revolution to
overthrow the decision OF the ballot We
do not live in Panama. and we have no
canal TO sell. This duty of obedience to
law being conceded. II being confessedIy
the principle upon which republican
government is founded, why stop TO con-
slider Il in relation 10 municipal govern
ment2. No one will seriously contend
that there is an obligation 10 obey the
law OF the State or nation. and none to
obey the ordinances Of Il city. There
fore why discuss that which all admit
10 be true?
Obedience to Law in City.
Although confessedly true. there are
nevertheless some thoughts concerning
1t worthy of consideration. some things
which make it fitting that the duty OF
obedience to law in a city should be
pressed upon our attention. The ordi-
nances Of a city are its special laws.
Undoubtedly the laws OF the State are
III force within the limits Of the mu-
niCipality. The criminal law OF the
State is as potent within as without the
city limits. To kill a man inside the
city is Just as much murder as 10 kill
him in the country; and, speaking gen.
orally. the laws OF the State and the
nation operate as fully within az with
out the limits OF a city. But in addition
TO those laws are the ordinances Of the
city enacted by the city authorities and
operative only within the city. There
are thus more laws requiring obedience.
Further. the ordinances are laws Of a
special character. and by reason thereof
justify special attention.
More Violation in City.
And the first thing which 1 wish TO
suggest Is that there is more violation
OF law in a city than elsewhere. This
Is not a matter of mere mathematics.
It Is not simply because there are mdre
laws to be obeyed-the ordinances OF the
city in addition to the laws OF the State
and nation. There is more crime in
city than in the country.
As proof Of this take the statistics
from the penitentiaries. In Joliet, for
instance. each year during the last three
years more than half the convicts came
from Cook county. Consider also the
number in Chicago jails and other places
where lesser criminals are punished.
Contrast the criminal dockets of your
city with those Of like courts in the
country. and then in addition go any
morning into your police courts and see
the crowd gathered there for violations
OF your ordinances, and you will have
no question OF the truth Of the DrOpO-
sition that crime Is more abundant In
the city than in the country.
Why City Is Preferred.
There are many reasons for this. One
IS the city Is the abiding place. the hab-
itat. OF the criminal The opportunities
Of escape and the means OF concealmenU
are greater. William NJ Tweed sat IL
a room IN BrooklyH and looked out %
his window at the great city OF New
York for months while the police and
detective force were vainly seeking TO
find and arrest him.
Again. criminals follow the paths OF
business. You never think Of looking
for a wholesale dry goods store out on
the prairie. The merchant locates In
city where he IS the most accessible.
and the larger the city the better. Now.
vice and crime are business. and they
go where property is and the multitudes
are.
There also they find their friends and
sympathizers. In such localities and
amid such surroundings their business
fiOurishes. It is lonesome and dangerous
70 stesl a horse in the country. Detec-
ton Is easy. pursuit is quick, and
friends are wanting. But larceny IN the
city Is not haf 50 dangerous, assistance
is near. and the rewards are greater.
One thing especially provoles crime.
and that is the mob. Let a strike be
announced and a body Of employees at
tempt by force 10 coerce their employ
ers and how quickly a mob gathers.
The criminal crowds TO the front to
profit by Il and plunder or do violence
in the excitement.
Employers and Employees Rights.
I do not turn aside from my thought
10 discuss the reciprocal rights OF en-
plOyers and employees. There are some
things too plain for argument That in
the absence Of a contract binding 20
the contrary there IS a legal right on
the part OF employees, singly or in a
body. 70 quit work; that IN case they
quit there Is an equal right on the part
Of employers 20 seek other employees.
and that there IS the same right OF
other employees to take such employ
ment when offered, are propositions too
plain for argument with those who have
any conception OF the meaning Of the
Declaration Of Independence or believe
that each man has an inalienable right
20 life. liberty. and the pursuit OF happi-
ness. Force and violence 20 prevent the