The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1914-02-05
HOW LAWLESSNESS GROWS.
Blame Rests on Better Glasses Who
Would Do as They Please.

One great trouble with us in South
Carolina-one reason why this State
is so far behind other States in so
many respects-is the little respect
we have for the law. A great many
of US do not pay any attention to
a law that We do not like. We are
not deliberate lawbreakers; we just
ignore the law.
And that this tendency is just as
strong among those who like to
think of themselves as belonging to
the better classes-those of us who
are educated and intelligent and are
fairly well-to-do-makes it all the
worse. We speak Of the ''lawless
element" when as a matter of fact,
there is little, if any, distinction.
Some depraved people violate certain
laws deliberately, while others, who
would resent being called criminals,
just ignore certain laws they do not
like and let it go at that. They
argue that it is an unwise law, or
one that would cause great incon-
venience if obeyed literally, so why
should they bother with it?
We do not like law against the
sale of whiskey, therefore we en-
courage the blind tigers. We do
not like the law against carrying
concealed weapons, therefore we go
around with a pistol in our hip-pock-
ct. We do not like the law against
gambling, therefore we meet with a
few congenial friends and play po-
ker or other games for money. Or
we may argue that these are good
enough laws for people who do not
know how to restrain themselves and
should be enforced as to those peo-
pie, but they were not intended to
apply to us and our friends who
know how to behave, and so we will
just go along as they apply to us.
/ And so it goes. We ignore the
law that we do not find it conven-
| lent to obey, and other people ignore
the laws which they do not approve
of, and it goes on down to those
whom we call the "lawless element.
They violate laws that we think all
people should be made to obey and
we rail at the officers for not en-
forcing the law. We declare in our
| wrath and shame that it is a dis
grace, and that the State is being
ruined. And that is tr:.e. But the
ruin is not being wrought by the
lower classes; it is being wrought
bv those of US who know better, but
who do not do better. We cannot
expect the ignorant people, those
| who have not had the advantages
that we have had; to do better than
wo do ourselves. When they see
us ignoring one law it is perfectly
natural for them to feel that they
have a right to break other laws.
And-mark you this-when we set
out to enforce the law against them,
and allow the privileged few of our
own set to go free, there is going
to be deep resentment and we need
not be surprised if there is serious
trouble. If the trouble comes 1t
will not be the ignorant classes who
will be so much to blame; those of
us who have set ourselves above the
law will be to blame.
It may be said that there are un-
wise laws on the statute books.
That is probably true. But who can
| tell whether a law is wise or not
| if it has not been observed? If a
law is strictly observed, its unwis-
dom can soon be determined, and
then it can be speedily repealed. A
law not enforced is dangerous, for
it brings on non-enforcement of
other laws-laws admitted to be ne
cessary. 1t is better to submit in
patience to a bad law than to bring
about the non-enforcement of all law
and we are rapidly approaching the
latter condition right here in South
Carolina.
This is a matter that the people
ought to be thinking about and try
ing to bring about a change. If we
do not soon bring about change
We are going to have some very bad
times indeed in the State-much
worse times than any We have yet
experienced. Daily Mail.