The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1907-03-16

wy lIHOUl attempting to pre-
" Judge the case OF any man
W against whom the Grand Jury
has recently made presentment, and
without either the ability or desire to
express an opinion as to the net re-
suit OF their long and arduous efforts,
we are nevertheless going to utter our
very decided protest against the wholly
unfair criticism to which they have
been subjected in some quarters. Let
it be understood that in entering upon
thorough and painstaking investiga
ton OF the persistent and widespread
rumors as to law breaking they have
been only fulfilling their sworn duty,
and following out the explicit and re-
peated instructions OF the Court as to
their inquiSitorial functions. II any
man objects to the jury's 'prying into
things" let him understand that this is
precisely what that body is meant to
do. II after an honest and thorough
examination they had found the com
munty free OF Indicators. we should
have brcalhrd more easily and happily,
and rcjOiCcd To know that Madame
Rumor had waggcd only an idle or
malicious tongue in her reports OF evil
doing in our midst. No man need be
disturbed whose hands are clean and
whose footsteps have been ordered
rightly. No man has RIGHT to COM
plain whose record has not been such.
The innocent will possess their souls
in perfect peace; the guilty will re-
member that when they DEFY the law,
they take their chances on what fol
lows in that train. There is no call Tor
any great cutlery or Supcriiuous Scnl-
mcnt. 1t ought to give us the kccnest
pleasure to know that our fellow cit-
zens are all innocent and law-abding.
1t should also give lis some security
to know that all OtherS-thOSc who are
not innocent or law ahidng-arc hay
ing measured out to them the demands
of justice. We use this word advised
ly. II is justice, simple, pure, un4ues-
tionablc justice that every man should
he compelled to conform To the laws
DEGREES As closely as every other man.
We decline to recognize any special
dispcnsati"ns whereby y shall be per
mttcd to do as he plcascS. while B
shall be compelled to do as the statutes
please. Equality before the law is at
the very foundation OF our civic struc-
turc. and the man who is cndcavOring
to keep the laws bchests is the man
who has right to feel bitter when the
administrators OF that law ignore the
deeds 0i those who defiantlv trans
grcss it. Let us be entirely clear and
rational about these matters. Let us
understand that the great mass OF our
citizens are rcspcctOrS OF the law, and
are cndcavoring to keep its com
mandmcntS, whether those command
ments are such as to receive their ap-
probation or disapprobation And
THEY are the people who are entitled
TO complain when no legal notice is
taken OF the laws attractions in their
very midst. The iniractor's mouth is
estoppcd by the very Jolly and lnpu-
dcncc OF his lawlcss course. Would 10
God that no such iniractors could be
found. Would to God that men might
come everywhere to see that not only
the safety but the happiness OF lie is
TO be found in walking uprightlv. But
until that millenia hour is struck, il is
the stern duty OF the civil courts to sec
that the peoples will, as expressed in
their legal statutes. shall be impartiallv
fulfilled without fear or without favor.