Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1905-04-13
LAW FOR LAWS SAKE.

In his address before the Missouri
Societyin NewYoTk the other night,
Governor Folk, of Missouri, said:
There is entirely too little respect
for law in America. In every state
we find a nulIity for policy's sake.
Such athing is unknown in any other
lands. Disregard of one law breeds
%disrespect for all. In allowing some
laws to so ~unenforced we reap a har-
vest in all laws broken. The law
may nos be to ones liking, but the
answer is, 1T is the law" should be
sufficient 1ur the law-abiding. Good
men will ob erve even bad laws, but
| bad men will break ever good laws.
1t shouli he that all men, good ana
bad, be compelled to keep all laws,
I good and bad, because it is the law.
| But how careless people usually are
las to whether laws ale en.orced o.
mot! This le. harry gives rise to civit
lewis. Indeed, nearly all publ
wrongs grow out of the indifference
of the people,"
Governor Folk his h u an ole op-
pcrtunityto know whereof he speaks
He gave much tue ana ab r % tn
I-prosecution Of the organized gang OF
v~iolators of the law III his state, and
did a great deal towards improving
the political conditions OF Missouri.
That was in his capacity as district
attorney. After he became governor
he continued his war on the boOdlers
and grafters, andoneofhi5 first moves
was made against the lobbyist evil
which had for years done so much to
disgrace Missouri. What he says
Iabout the lack Of respect for law III
this country is true. There are more
laws and more ~laWlessness in the
] United States than in any other en-
Heightened country in the world. The
Egreat humber of useless and positive
EIy bad laws is largely responsible for
the wholesale disregard of the laws
ig~enerally. What this country needs
is fewer laws and a more consistent
reinforcement of the same. When it is
widely understood that a law can be
violated with impunity the next step
is to disregard good laws that should
.protect the rights of citizens, laws in
the absence of which the peoples
Hives and property would be unsafe.
Governor Folk in his address sale
sanother thing which bears closely
upon the observance of the laws
This was that "the idea that citizen
lship in a free county implies a civil
obligation to enforce the performance
of every public trust and hold ever!
Epublic official to strict accountable,
Ibefore enlightened public opinion 70
/ .aIl official acts"
: In other words it is the duty G
levery citizen in a free country to il
: asist that their chosen authorities shall
! isee to it that the law is execute
. without fear or favor. An eniight
lened public opinion, a healthy insis
t ltenceupon respect for and observanc
Iof the law means that bad law
, Ishould be respected, not d~isregarded
flor, as Governor Folk said, the gov
3 Iernment does not neglect the peopl
= UNLESS the people first neglect tn
government. If the people are de
: Itermined that the laws shall be en-
forced they can make it easily pos
EsibIe for those in authority to do il
1.-The whole matter rests upon publ
opinion.
A Souti-e rn contemporary com
menting upon this widespread dis
regard and violation of the law says
SIT is better to protect the hors
than to shut the stable door after h
has been ~stolen," and again, cit i
not mercy or kindness that leave
the infection free to inoculate tn
weak in our midst-isoiate the frs
leases" all Of which is preeminentl,
true.
kClamDErlaiu'S Cough Remedy til