Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-08-17
The Enforcement of Law.

Law must be enforced, order must
prevail. Mob violence must be SUP
pressed Race riots are intolerable,
regardless of the provocation. Ven
geance does not belong to the citizen
ship Regardless of how deep The
sense of outrage that may have been
committed against public morals md
decency. regardless of the fact trat it
is much more easy to stand at It o:s
tance and deprecate and even de-
nounce the frenzy that has existed at
Springfield for the past few days and
nights. than it would be to suppress
the human feeling of resentment of
the acts of inhuman Wretches were
one on the scene, the only safeguard
to good citizenship reposes in strict adj
herence to the process of law.
There is no doubling the fact that
G!abClical deeds committed in Spring
field were sufficient to arouse the
rishteCusly inclined to almost uncon-
tioning the fact that the human being
is the same the world over, and when
once aroused beyond the point of for
bearance, he is certain TO go 10 eX-
tremes which he is as apt to repent
OF later No one who loves home,
rxtl,1 tIA
lection of the honor and virtue of
woman can in his heart blame, much
less condemn the spirit of Indignation
that ragged within the breasts of the
people of Springfield when they
learned of the crimes that had been
committed by fiends in human form in
that city. 1t may be difficult to consider
liberation under such circumstances
and yet the we'll being of mankind
and the safety of the state and the
republic must depend upon the law
abiding disposition of the people.
Lack of respect for the law, indig-
nation long pent up over the miscar-
ciage of Justice, no less than the fury
that fired the people of Springfield
who engaged in the mob work, consti-
tute the causes of the disgrace that has
leen brought upon the state. Laxity
in the enforcement of law is RESPONSE
BILE for defiance of law both by
the criminal and by the people. jug
Cling with the law by means OF
trifiing technicalities, which too often
place the known criminal beyond the
pale of justice and the reach of g
people whose peace and dignity has
been outraged. is more accountable
han all else for the spirit of unrest
that prevails not only in Springfield
cut all over the country. Because III
all too many cases the law Is made
= travesty on Justice. because all toe
| frequently the law is allowed to
become a shield for the Offender
rather than a means of punishment
the people have in innumerable in
stances. sad TO relate. lost confidence
and faith in what should be- the mos
cherished of all American institutions
At the door of the courts that yiel(
hastily to the wiles of unscrupulou
lawyers, more anxious to free thu
criminal regardless of how carnal hi
offense, than to secure for him simple
Justice, may be laid much of thu
blame for the unhappy tendenc.
of people to give vent to their owl
feelings instead of submitting patient
iv to the operation of the machiner,
of Justice with abiding faith in tn
| consequence.
So that while the law must be ST
preme and must be made so at ever
cost, it's administration must be sterr
positive and sincere if those who loo
UP TO it and rely upon it are to hav
their faith unshattered
Enforcement of law will alone con
pc! respect for law