Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1859-03-17
p,ackvood for Fobruarv.

This classic Of magazines is on our table,
freighted as usual with solid sensible articles,
and suggestive thoughts. The national char
actsr Of our foreign Reviews detracts some
what from the interest which an American
reader would feel in their perusal. They
however present pretty fair picture of the
English mind, the modes of thought, and
the topics, political, ecclesiastical and social
which attract the attention of our brethren
of the "fast anchored Isle." Those who wish
to become acquainted with English life and
English subjects cannot do better than sub
scribe for one or all of the periodicals..
The articles in the present number Of
Blackwood' Edinburg Magazine however
possess a general interest as may be inferred
from their subjects. They are: Carlyle
GLOW We Went to Skye"-"objectionable
Book" -"Popular Literature 'fRawlenson's
Heredotus" "Fallely Accused" -'Meplutis
and the Antdote"-"A Cruise on japanese
Waters"
We select the article "FaIsoly Accused" as
ore of the most interesting. 1t is report
of criminal trial in Nuruberg in 1890, in
which are exhibited some Of the revolving
features of the continental criminal courts of
the last century. In reading it we could not
help congratulating ourselves on living in
the 10th century and in country where the
right Of fair, impartial trial is granted TO
every accused member Of society however
humble.
With US, it rs held as a sound maxim that,
every man should DO regarded ianocent till
proven guilty.
The Nurubcrgers seemed to regard every
man accused as guilty till proven innocent.
and hence the terrible punishment inflicted
upon the innocent to extort confessions Of
guilt or extort evidence.
We may sometimes feel astonished, and
perhaps indignant, at the efforts made by
counsel among us in defence of those re-
garded as guilty by public opinion, whose
guilt seems clear rs sunshine but when we
consider the fallibility Of testimony and
the liability even in honest, truthful witnesses
to err, we cannot help having preference for
our own mode of criminal trial however
much abused it NAV be. To see innocent
families. as at Nuruburg, imprisoned for
months, scourged, and mother dying in the
horrors of dungeon, and at last having
their innocence attested by the conviction OF
The guilty, and then sent forth without in
dernnity for their suiferings and losses, is
enough in the name of humanity, to make
us thank God for our criminal courts, our
judges, our juries and our lawyers. however
censurable they may sometimes appear.
The article on "Meplutis and Its Antidotop
is an able comment on the sanitary regula-
tons of cities and towns.
Pestilence and disease sometimes sweep
down upon us and our citizens wonder whence
they come. Aninspsction of the receptaclss
of filth, sewers, yards and cellars might often
give a satisfactory answer. The laws Of so
eisty and the laws OF the Bible enjoin clean
illness; md when communities or individuals
6aaer I'D these laws, diseases act as officers
Ut tire Divine Government to enforce its
- aid execute its Pruafties. Where conn
Duuitisr permit the atmosphere which they
breathe 10 be filled with meplutic vapors
rising from yards, alleys, cutters and cellars,
it is hardly rational to suppose that God will
wo;lk miracle to preserve them from their
in6aence. 1t has been said that God made
the country AM man made cities, and man
would do well to imiit.e,te, at least in purity
anu cleanliness, the works oil his creator.