The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1921-09-13
Crime Is Crime.


1t is very easy to agree with Attorney Gen
eral Daughcrty that there can be no exalta-
ton of crime such as a great many offenders
attempt ASA sop unto themselves when they
have violated the laws of state or nation.
Crime is crime whether it be highway rob-
berry or murder or seditiony The so-caed po-
litical prisoner rs a criminal, if he has done
nothing except to set himself against his
country in the time of war. The offense IS
punishable, as it should be The penalty for
robbery or other felonious crimes is imposed
because it is believed that it will deter Grim
Iinals Of that class in degree that will benefit
society The penalty for sedition would lose
Its lettering effect if the offender is not made
to suffer its punishment.
Mr. Daugherty called attention i'll his ad-
Idress at Cincinnati before the American Bar
Association TO the attempts being made to
dignity crimes committed by persons now in
custody for disloya1 conduct or for obstruct
ing the government in the war Crime is not
digniied by the mere assertion OF sympathiz-
ers that the offense was worthy. Law is law
lust as crime is crime and he who violates
lit is guilty in spite OF efforts made to white
wash his ofense. The efforts to exalt and
dignity crimes OF this character, according to
Mr.. Daugherty, are made ito create public
sentiment, not only to have such persons
freed, but to have this doctrine Of political Of
lenses recognized as part of our domestic
law. the purpose being to allow such criminals
and those in sympathy with them to continue
such opposition to law and order with mpuni-
Ity."
Mr. Daugherty shows that he is not in SYM
pathy with the foolish, sentimental attitude
Iof a great many Americans that, with the war
ended offenseS committed during the con-
hict have lost their hurtful influence. Law must
Fbe protected when the crime is committed,
and its future must be guarded as we'll If
the government insists upon loyalty from its
citizens. in one war and has laws to enforce
such loyalty it would not be logical for it to
remove safeguards for that loyalty in flu
ture wars by extending clemency to offenders.
Let the criminal pay the price.
The supremacy of the law, which cannot be
denied against conscience, is attacked never
theless by various persons who try to minim
ize their acts by representing that they are the
defenders of personal liberty" Mr.. Daugher-
!ty struck at such offenders, and put them in
the same class as any other criminals who
violate a law for which there is punishment.
The federal prohibition law offers in this re-
gard the best illustration, perhaps, of Mr..
Daugherty's point He points out how every
champion of lawlessness who has sought an
excuse for unlawful conduct" has advanced the
cause of personal liberty" The judicial sec
ton of the American Bar Association warned
that commercial and social leaders, who scott
at the federal prohibition law, are aiding an
archy and promoting mob violence and homi-
eide. The inference to be drawn is that these
things encourage lawless persons to take the
law into their own hands, both for execution
and for destruction of the law itself.
Summed up the whole proposition is one that
demands respect for the law. It makes no dit
ferencesh "a law is regarded. Opinions are
at variance as to many laws. Some laws, per-
haps are bad. The thing to do however, is
not to violate them, but to repeal them 9th
erwise no law, good or bad can be protected
and enforced.