Year: 1877

captioned aOur Peace Officers" Il is matter of great importance tf the peace and we'll being of every .county and section that the peace officers should be men of courage firmness and great moral courage Not only this, but tisey should be men of exemplary character and ol sober, correct judgement. The re- marks of the Gazette so far as they go meet our entire appreciation That paper says:

 ssIt is a matter of note in this State as well as throughout the country, that those counties that are favored with efficient and courageous officers have least of crime and lawlessness. Criminals study the character ot peace officers just as children study and soon learn the weak and strong points in their parents. If the horse-thief understands that the chances are as nineteen to twenty that the Sheriff will pursue and cap ture him, he will go for horse to a county where the officers are less vigilant and efficient. If the desper- ado and bully believe that they will certainly be arrested and punished for promlscuous shooting, they will seek localities where the officers are timid and time serving. We are not complaining of lawlessness in Ar kansas, though there is too much of it, just as there is in Indiana, Hi nois, Missippi, and elsewhere and everywhere The cause of it is to be found primarily in the timidity and inefficiency of our peace officers, and secondarily in allowing criminals to escape through the mehses of the law. Give us bold courageous off cers who will make arrests regardless of consequences, and tben judges and courts that will execute law promptly, and we shall have less crime

 Where there IS lawlessness and crime, however, the blame does not always belong upon officers; and it is sometimes great injustice to them to take it for granted that because a spirit of lawlessness seems to per wade a certain community and crimes are of frequent occurrence, that the peace officers of that com munity are devoid of courage or firmness. There IS something's certain indispensable pre- requisite back of all this, which is necessary to we'll regulated and peaceful state of society, and which evil do CTS fear most of all. It is frequent ly the case the absence of this all important prerequisite is the cause which will account for the lawless- ness of some communities. There fore we say that officers should not he condemned until we look and see if they are backed up by this power behind them, which is simply THE MORAL SENTIMENT WHICH PERvADEs THE PEOPLE. The people have du- ty to perform Tn the suppression of crime which is as binding upon them as is the duty resting upon of ficials, and upon the manner in which they discharge their duty, as much, or more, than upon the man ner in which the peace officers dis charge theirs, depends the suppress sion of lawlessness and crime. If we would suppress crime the masses of the people-all those who pretend to be good citizens-must set their face against all lawlcssness and dis creditable conduct. There must be a moral aroma prevailing the very atmosphere which will plainly tell evil disposed persons that their evil inclinations must be curbed and | SuDuueu. II d CIiiuC IS COIl ulltcu this spirit among the people must be made manifest, and everything must not be left to our peace officers. The people must spring to the breach, and without waiting for sheriff to hear of the crime and come miles to arrest the criminal, the people should apprehend him at once, and hold him in custody until sheriff can ar rive. An indifference to crime, on the part of the people, which will al low a felony to be committed and the felon to leasurcly walk or ride away before a peace officer can be put on his track, is fatal to law and order. Where it exists, peace of. ficer, be he ever so courageous and determined is powerless, for without the cordial backing of the people he will find his authority braved and his office disregarded by scores of bad men. So we warn our people that they have duty resting upon