The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1914-11-26
A REIGN OF NO Law
That In Reality Is What Is Meant
by Martial Law.
SUSPENDS ALL OTHER LAWS.

SuSPENDS ALL OTHER LAWS.
Those In Command Have Supreme Au-
thority, and There Is No Check Upon
Their Arbitrary Power Over Persons
and Property of All Kinds.
What is martial law? Some people
have a vague idea that it is military
law, but this is a mistake. Military
law has nothing whatever to do with
martial law. Military law is simply
that branch Of the laws applicable to
military service and duties, consisting
OF the statutes, regulations and prin-
c1ples by which the army and it's af-
fairs are governed. The misunder-
standing has arisen partly from the
name given to it and partly from the
fact that it is the military which fire.
quenty carry out the regulations,
while often the military forms Of
courts are held.
The police, however, if duly author
lied, may carry out martial law.
It is difficult to define the meaning Of
martial law in nontechnical words.
The dictionary definition Of martial law
is that it is military authority exer-
cised in accordance with the laws and
usages Of war when the civil authority
Is wholly or partly suspended, either
10y proclamation or by the actual pres
ence Of a hostile force. But the best
definition given has been that of mo
law"
It means that the supreme authority
is empowered to do as it wills and that
all ordinary laws, for the time being,
have no operation whatever. There are
no laws dealing with its application.
those in command possessing entirely
:. rbitrary power.
This means that there will be COM
plete revolution in the ways of the
people wherever martial law is pro-
claimed. All ordinary life will be af.
fected, and it will no longer be the
case that IAN Englishman's home is
his CASTLE
AS rule, when a place is under
martial law it's inhabitants must clear
out of the streets before a certain
time every evening, say o'clock.
Then all places of amusement, public
houses and so on are closed entirely.
Even during the daytime a limit is
made as to the number Of people who
may assemble. SO that party of peo-
ple-numbering above, say, half doz-
en-would be liable to instant punish
ent Also certain places and certain
streets are forbidden to the people.
who may be compelled to keep beyond
a certain radius from the specified
places.
Those in authority may take any
object they like from anywhere, enter
ing houses as we'll as shops to COM
mandeer whatever they wish without
any control. Any person may be COM
PEELED to give a complete account Of his
movements, past, present and project
ed, and may be searched or even ar
rested without warrant.
Crimes are dealt with very severely.
Thus suppose a man breaks a win
dow. Instead of being hauled up be-
fore magistrate and subjected to a
small fine, the policeman would be
perfectly justified in shooting him i'm
mediately.
So in the case Of robbery. A man
stealing purse need not be arrested,
but could be shot, this being perfect
1y justifable action on the part Of
those in authority.
Every person might be compelled to
carry passport, giving full evidence
of his Identification. Passports would
be necessary in the case of those using
horses or vehicles Of any kind. inc]ud-
ing cycles
All persons who were compelled to
be out at night would be provided
with special night passes signed by
the one in authority. No person would
be allowed to leave one town for an
other or travel beyond a certain dis
lance without being the possessor of
a properly signed passport given for
this special purpose.
The object, Of course. is to keep the
people within certain districts and also
to prevent foreign spies and the like
from moving into the country and so
cleaning information of value to our
enemies Inquirer
Imperial Rome.
There are various estimates Of the
population of ancient Rome. The fig
ure given by Gibbon is 100000
Baker, in his notes to Montesquieu's
"Grandeur and Decadence of the Ro-
mans" gives good reasons for thinking
that Rome's population was 100000.
The city had within its walls in the
time Of Theodosius 4S,332 habitations.
built. as a rule. with several stories.-
New York American
The Word "Rajah.''
Literally the word rajah means king
and maharajah the great king or ruler
over several kings, but generally
speaking the titles rajah. maharajah
and nawab have no greater significance
than the words feudal lords as used in
mediaeVa1 times in Throne Manv IF