Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-12-11

At Astoria, Oregon, following the fire which
laid the greater part of the business section of the
city in ruins, there was formed an executive COM
mittee composed Of officials and private citizens for
the maintenance of order until conditions approach
ing normal can be restored. This procedure is SO
usual as to attract little attention. 1t is taken for
granted that something of the kind mist be done
after a community is visited by any great calamity.
The ordinary machinery Of a city is planned for use
under normal conditions, and when the affairs Of
the community are entirely deranged, this nachia-
cry is usually found inadequate, and it must be sup
plemented or a temporary substitute for it must be
found.
The spontaneity with which people improvise
temporary forms Of law and provide temporary
means for its enforcement when an emergency
arises in which the ordinary methods are seen to be
inadequate is an impressive demonstration of the
need of human society for law and law enforcement.
In every country into which groups Of people have
gone for the prosecution of their peaceful occupa-
tons there has been felt this need for law and the
duty of the community itself to take steps forthe
safeguarding ofjits own existence and of the rights
of its members. The Pilgrims who landed at Ply
mouth three hundred years ago provided them
selves Immediately with the nstrumentalities of
law. All over the world mining camps and cattle
ranges have been given at least a measure of securi-
ty by the establishment of means Tor the protection
OF the rights Of individuals and the apprehension
and punishment of those who transgressed those
rights. In due time the laws and courts of older
and more Systematically organized society have
found their way. into these remote places. but for
the time being the inhabitants have governed them
selves in accordance with laws framed by them
selves, the outgroWth of the necessities of the time.
Every little while some would-bc philosopher
undertakes o@dmferentiate between what he con-
ceiyesto be two classes of rights, huma1nrights and
property rights, giving a decidedly lower place to
the latter Often insplacing emphasis on the sac
redness4 of human rights he d~ismisses property
rights with contempt. He fails to understand that
there is no such thing asa! property right which
does not derive its authority from the fact that it is
the sacred right of a human being. Human beings
have rights. Property has none. But the right of
the individual to possess and enjoy in peace the
property which is rightfully his has been recognized
in all ages, by all peoples, no matter how primitive
or how refined in their civilization. In the laws
which have governed the hastily organized groups
OF explorers, miners, cattlemen, sheep herders, or
what not, the taking of %another's property has al
ways been made a major offense, frequently an Of
Tense punishable by death. When FIRE or food or
tornado wrecks a city the ilnproviscd vigilance takes
stern measures with those who help themselves to
the property of other people. There is no thought
of property having any rights, but the right of the
Individual to that which is his is held sacred.
No society can endure in which that principle is
not recognized. And the state of a society is as
fraught with danger when the idle and the dissolute
and the ~thriftless are conceded opportunities to. pos
sess themselves of property which they had no hand
in. creating as when men WHO already possess great
wealth use the power which it gives them, to extort
from others that which they should not be required
toyield.
Conditions Of sudden strain and stress test our
institutions. But under those conditions the thing
that stands out in boldest relief is the need for law
under which order may be maintained, and under
which the individual may be secure in his person
and his property: