Cavalier County farmers press. (Langdon, N.D.) 1920-1921, 1921-01-20
SHALL WE KILL THE STATES
ATTORNEY?
Editor Farmers Press: :

ATTORNEY?
Editor Farmers Press
This hath a bloodthirsty sound.
But we ask it seriously. Only the
reference is not to the personal
attorney, but the States Attorney
as to his official life. Briefly, the
States Attorney is elected by the
people to enforce the laws which
were made by the people through
their representatives to the legisla.
ture. He is not officially q law
critic, nor a law maker. Heis hired
and paid his salary for enforcing
laws that the people have made. In
the very nature of his Office, having
been elected by a majority of the
people, he is responsible to enforce
the laws and enforce them without
partiality to any of the people.
Furthermore, it is perfectly evil
dent to the simplest mind that the
law owes its force to the penalty
attached. Without a penalty the law
is a gun without a charge in it: a
sword hilt minus the blade: a steam
engine without a boiler. Briefly,
a bluff.
But further still, if the law has
an adequate penalty, but which
penalty is executed of what
avail is it? None at all. To have
a penalty but never execute the same
il to invite contempt of both the law
and the, officers thereof. Even in the
perfect confines of sinless Eden the
single first "Thou shalt not" had a
drastic penalty-spiritual and physl-
cal death hard labor and suffering.
All of which was enforced without
delay. 1t would seem, then, that
Omniscience teaches the value of
not only penalties. but the necessity
of executing them.
The question arises, however,
Shall the law be enforced without
mercy upon all offenders alike?
Obviously, not. The principle laid
down by the Man Of Galilee is, in
effect, that the offender who knew
the law should suffer more than the
n who is ignorant thereof. The
n should have many "stripes",
the other. few. But both were pun
ished. The man who is swept off
his feet by a sudden gust of tempta-
tion is not to be classed with that 1
MAJ who deliberately and continuous
ly engages in unlawful practices.
And SUCH is the presumption of our
legal statutes.
But let it be remembered that if
rulers are to be a terror to evil
works. too much leniency cannot be
exercised. 1t being true that the
fear of the penalty is the whole
force of the law. or at least the
major part of it. 1t follows that the
upholding of the laws majesty de-
mands a measure of sternness that is
too often missing in modern courts
of law. Top many tend to look with
exaggerated cummiseration upon the
caught l~awhreaker, rather than upon
the dangerous effects upon society at
large of allowing said offender to re-
main unpublished or ~inadequately
punished. Our pity must be season
eg with sound principles and clear
judgment if we would be true citi-
zens of our beautiful little city. We
must think of the many who are
menaced while We are thinking of
the few who are guilty.
Then what shall be our attitude
toward nur States Attorney? The
writer is convinced that he is emf.
nently fair and kindly in his work,
but that he is, and should be con.
scientious. Should we go cunning for
him when it is perfectly evident that
he is discharging his Office with fair
ness, kindness and justice? Or
shall we make it our business as citi.
zens to assist him in the a%pprehen-
sion of all who endanger the moral
welfare of Langdon, regardless of
who or what he, she or it is? What
il your answer?
WIN. G.. Faucette.