Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-01-19
Member OF Associated Press
MONDAY. JANUARY 10, 1920.
The Law Should be Supreme.

The Law Should be Supreme.
At the annual convention OF the Ameri-
san Bar Association, last September,
Hon. Fhhu Root OF New York made a
very able address, in which he showed
that the chief cause OF social and political
unrest IN this country was 'an intellectual
and moral attitude in which law and the
limitations on individual action arc held
IN low esteem That is, whenever law
enacted in the interest Of the whole people
restricts the action Of an individual or an
asSrmblacc Of individuals in a manner
which seems obnoxious 70 hm or them,
thcv assume the right to iiout the law
and resist. hv violence, tho agents en-
trusted with the duty Of its admrnistra-
ton.
Il should not require IN extensive
eHecesis or unusual adnontion % impress
upon the mind ot the average citlz II, or
of cItizcns generally the Cvi! 81 such
course. Laws are enacted with the pur-
pose 1t serving the general good oi tie
community. OF course. restrictive laws
>of any character are obnoxious ~ evil
6oers. and good citizens do not protest
against cumpulsorv measures, even i
somewhat severe. to compel them 10 re-
spcct law and maintain order. Also. oc-
raSons arse when laws enacted Tor the /
general good operate III ! manner that
intcrferes with the comfort and con-
venienoe Of persons III their daily living, /
but when such occasions aTlSc all good
citizens acquiesce and bear the NEON
venlences IN a good spirit. knowing the /
annoyance viii be only temporary, and |
that by submitting 70 It chcorfully they |
arc serving sound public purposes. This /
rs especially the case with the enforce /
ment Of enactmcnts designed 70 protect /
the health and lives oi the general com 4
rnunity against the deadly advances q !
threatening epidemlcs,
We have had recently, Is our Peonie +
arc well aware, 80 instance IN our State
OF violent uprising against constituted
authority, growing out of the efforts of
the State Board of Health to suppress
an epidemic of smallpox il lower Dcla-
ware. The law. which authorizes strict
regulations as 10 quarantine and compul-
sorv vaccination. naturally Is attended ny
hardships IN It's full and proper enforce
nent. To many citizens. no doubt, its
operations seem oppressive and re-
of individual rights. But it Is
their duty 10 submit IS long Is the law
is in force and effect or, if they desire %
It's authority or Its sound stand
ing. to do 50 by legal methods, Of which
there is no ack, bur never hv any resort
to physical force.
In q word. 1t IS the duty Of the people q
all times to obey the Law ard preserve
order and decorum Otherwise the result
is anarchy Tor d community u take
upon Itself the right 10 determine whether :
! duly and regularly enacted law shall or
shall not be enforced IS actually Bolshe-
yism in It's worst form and Boishevism
,8s no room for prevalence under 4 free
government.
Therefore, when We haye evidence Of
mch Z grave m.sdirecaon OF public 9enti-
nent N open and violent opposition 10
he administration If iaw as that which
occurred IN Georgeyopu last week, when !
n authorized agent oi the State Board Of !,
Health was estopped bs force 10 the per
Of his legitimate duties and
ompeIled t. iea1c IN, town, il l. appro-
mate 10 call 3ttenuon raimly but with
u the moral fofre hat is possible, TO tho
VI Of such dolng> Especially Is tho nrl- !
ent omlnaQs hy rs happening il . quet
rderIy and lan-abidlng communlts
georgetown long has been
Attornev-C'eneral Benhardt Is MAX !,
1g thorough investigation mo tho
episode, and viii Do al that is
ecessary to uphold the integrity d the + ),
w and maintain The authority of the
tate government for whiaA be is to be .
and it which purpose lie 4
lould be loyat sustained by All good !
tizens. For II is is much to the interest
all the people oi Georgetown, even
lose who proved g surprisingly re-
slcItrant when tie health authorities p
ldeayored to perform tleir duty ID en- =
'rclng the law. is il is to the people Of =
! the rest of the State q
The people q Lcwes also have inter Iit
osed objection 70 the enforcement Of
&c State Board Of Health requirements ID
ie smallpox situation. but thus far they er
.ve acted II al orderly and regular ot
amer, and al their actions will bo in pc
cordanee with law Here il Ill example fe
'at should II cmulated Isl al citizens e;
10 fear they viii b. unduly oppressed
Any manner by the ad.uip traitor, If
y law III
Bur ,Iolenr opposition to NJ. " ra.l- III
n, of k'nd that leads directly y Itr
archy II.