Durango semi-weekly herald., 1904-06-16
GOVERNOR PEABODY
INDICATED


There is probably no connection be
tween the outbreak of assassination in
Teller county and the decision OF the
supreme court in the Meyer case And
yet each of these TWO events is In its
own way a striking vindication OF the
wisdom of the course pursued by
Governor Peabody,
1t is a fact that cannot be denied
that there is In this state a number
OF men who Will not hesitate To plot
and to execute wholesale murder as
well as lesser crimes in order to fur
ther their purposes. Such men are
not only criminals whom TO punish is
the duty of the state. but they are en-.
emies of society, of civilization and
of the human race. against whom for
its own protection the utmost strength
of the state must be exercised
And it is certainly a great mistake
for any part of the law-abiding pcople
of the state to assume that such an
exercise of the lawful and necessary
power of the state is directed against
them or their interests
1t may well serve the purposes of
the criminals and OF the enemies of
the law TO seek the sympathy and the
protection of others through the false
plea that the laws are made and en-
forced for the benefit only OF a GER
tain class, and against another class
but such tragedy as that OF Monday
boldly strips away the cloak of such a
pretense and reveals the horror OF
crime and the necessity OF the enforce,
ment OF law by force.
1t may be urged by some that II the
state had not eNerted its power such
tragedies would not happen, but that
argument is plainly false. Civiliza-
lion has never yet reached the stage
in which crime can be suppressed and
anarchy prevented by anything else
than physical force back of the law
and as a last resort the military power
OF the people exercised by the govern
ment No nation is safe Without a
standing army against foreign foes and
against internal riot and insmrection,
and the demand that the martial arm
OF the government shall be destroyed
or atrophied. by whomsoeyer made is
demand that criminals shall be IN
loosed to pursue their selfish courses.
and that the foes of the government
shall be given II free hand in their
Sariare against law.
The particular purpose and connec-
tions of the authors of this wholesale
murder is not the main point The
principal fact is that such criminals eN-
iut 10 10 ha
public safety that they be hunted down
and properly punished, and that the
public authorities shall have fun
power for such action and shall eNer-
else 1t. The corporation, the organ
ization or the individual that stands
in the way OF such enforcement of the
law is the accomplice OF criminals and
the enemy of society.
The officer who undertakes to pre-
vent and to punish such crimes and to
maintain and defend the law by every
means within his power is not only ful-
filling his sworn duty but he is ren.
dering public service in the highest
degree.
The supreme court decision shows
what Governor Peaoody's power is
under the constitution of this state
The murders at Cripple Creek, like
other crimes at Telluride, Leadyille,
Idaho Springs and Cripple Greek, re
vealed the necessity for the exercise
of that authority. and the necessity
too, for the support of the governor
In his official action by all law-abiding
citizens of the state.-Pueblo Chief
tain.