Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1904-01-21

N6rSy WOULD seek lOr ana pay i lawyer
ito advise them in their litigation. But
recently men totally unacquainted with
the rules of evidence, or the require
ments of law, are ready to brush aside
as "technicalities" precious rights and
privileges that the Anglo-Saxon race
has secured after many ~hard-fought
battles and bloody conflicts with tyran-
nical rulers.
They would in the heat of their pas
sion put aside those safeguards of the
law which in time of oppression will
be their main reliance. 81 appeal from
the Supreme Court to the people. |
am right and the law is wrong!" cries
my friend who wears the red cap and
the m~any-colored coat. This was done
during the French Revolution. More
victims for the guillotine!" was the
cry. ITO hell with the laws delays!
Cut off his head, and we will find out
whether he is guilty or not after
wards!" Those judges who sent the
most victims and sent them the quick
est on their way to the scaffold in
bloody tumbrels were the popular
judges. Those judges who did not
move fast enough, and did not send
forth enough victims had their heads
cut off. My friend with the red cap,
do you want to cut off the heads of our
judges that popular clamor may call
you leader? Or is it because their
knowledge of law has shown your iS-
norance Of it?
In 1896 Democrats criticised the Su-
preme Court of the United States for
its decision in i matter that related
solely to the rights of property. The
Democratic party generally was assail-
ed by the Globe-D Democrat, Republican
papers and Republican speakers for the
criticism. To-day they do not hesitate
to go as far and farther than did the
Democrats of '96 in their criticism OF
the Supreme Court of Missouri, not
because of decisions relating to prop
erty, but because of decisions relating
to personal liberty, Do Republican
papers draw a distinction between
property rights and the rights of per-
sonal liberty?
To the Republican mind are the
rights of property greater and more
sacred that the rights OF lib
erty and a fair trial? In
your eagerness to dictate TO the party
of Democracy, have you lost all sense
of justice? If it was anarchy in '96,
is it anarchy in 1904? Would you
trample on the law dignified by cen
turtles that your man with the red CAP
may win? No true friend Of the people
will fill their minds with suspicious
of our institutions, especially the
courts of law, and when this is done
for the sole purpose of promoting q
private ambition, it becomes most
despicable.
Viewing the Courts decisions from q
political standpoint, no sane man will
say that, in the present temper of pub.
lie opinion, the judges would not have
received from the minimizing more o.
applause if they had decided the cases
committed to their charge not upor
the law, but upon public sentiment
When courts yield to passion, preju'
dice and public clamor, there will bt
an end of law and government.
POLICE.
The issue of police in politics ha!
been a ~favorite one with Republican.
during the last eight years. During
my entire term as president OF thu
Police Board | remember of but ont
case where charges were filed by citi
zens against officers for improper con
duct at elections. Republican papers
were filled with charges Of police in
timidation" and Interference at th'
polls" but it Is a fact that none o
these Republican papers or none of thu
Republican politicians making thes,
charges were ever willing to submit
them to a judicial hearing.
| am opposed to Police interference
in politics, and believe that the polio,
ought to stay out of politics, just as
believe that the circuit attorney
Office ought to be kept out of politics
A policeman has no more right to dra1
a man away from tie polls for politi
cal purposes than has the circuit at
torney the right to drag a nan across
the State of Missouri for political pur
poses. | do not believe that a police
man should promote his politica
aspirations through his position, no
do I believe that the circuit attorney
office should be used for a like pur
pose. The vote secured by a policeman
through intimidation is a bad vote
just as q vote secured by a circuit at
torney by intimidation would be a ba,
vote. If there is any question of mora
turpitude in such conduct it would b
in favor of the policeman, who occu
pies a humble office and receives $1,00
a year, while the circuit attorney oc
cupies a high Office with an income O
over $1,000 a year.
l am one of those who believe tina
a policeman has all the rights of a.
American citizen. He has the right t
join what political association he de
sires, to vote for the candidates Of nj
choice, and, when not in the discharg
of his duties, to participate in thos
organizations which advocate the pol
tical doctrines in which he believer
A policeman may become a tyrant IN
small way, and a grand jury, under tn
domination of a candidate for offlc,