The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-01-27
"PENNSYLV VANiA JUSTICE"

SonE OF the most influential journals in the
country have commented with appropriate
severity upon the recent grant of pardon by
Governor Geary to Richard Ficken before he
had been tried and convicted of the Infamous
crime of which he was guilty, and, as may be
supposed, their remarks are not at all com
plimentary to the Pennsylvania laws which
render such an outrage possible, or to the
high officials who were concerned in the
affair. The people of this city and State
should clearly understand that Governor
Geary, Attorney General Brewster, Messrs.
William B. Mann, Lewis G. Cassidy, and all
others who interested themselves in pro-
curing this pardon for Ficken, are guilty of
the grave offense of compounding a felony,
and are themselves liable to trial, conviction,
and punishment. Geary's utter worth
lessness was plainly made known
long before the last Gubernatorial election,
but in spite of energetic protests
from those who had the interest not only of
the State but of the Republican party at
heart, he managed to obtain q denomination
and reelection. The people of the State are,
therefore, responsible for him, and they share
with him the disgrace which attaches to such
a scandalous attempt to defeat the ends of
Justice as that in which he recently, only too
successfully, engaged. On our second page
will be found pungent article from the New
York T9fJuae headed Pennsylvania Justice"
which we are ashamed to say is every word of
it true and deserved We especially COM
mend the concluding paragraph of this article
to the serious attention of our readers, as il
contains a suggestion of the very highest
Importance. The Tribune asks eff the Gov
ernor has this apostolic power of pardon be-
fore trial, why not before the actI Why not
sell indug noes to any sugar dealer with a
Trustworthy bank account and an idiosyncracy
for winging little boys on his door steps ?"
Why not, indeed3 Governor Geary has
gone to soma tx RENE lengths in the exercise
of the pardoning p)wer, and, 80 far as we can
understand, there is nothing whatever to
hinder him from gong a step further aud
peddling out pardons in advance to whoever
may be inspired with fancy for indulging in
violations of the laws, especially if sufficient
Inducements should be held out to him. The
E0ening Bulletin few days ago, comment
ing upon the Ficken case, said that it fully
justified the pungent criticisms of one of
the ablest iurists of Pennsylyanis, who re-
marked upon this case, day or two ago, Gov
ernor Geary has reduced the quantity OF par
dOns, but he has not improved the quality. q
We distinctly remember that the B4-
btin, both befors and after the
last Gubern torial election, hony
contended that the manner in which Gsary
had exercised the pardoning power was the
best part of his record. Geary's second term,
however, has been more than enough even
for the Bu lein, and we sincerely congratu.
late our contemporary on the fact that it has
at length begun 10 discover what manner Of
man the individual is who disgraces the Chief
Executive chair of the State Of Pennsylvania
and we sincerely hope that the Ficken cast
viii convince not only the Bulletin but deeen
men of all p5rties that Geary is not propel
person to be intrusted hereafter with an!
public os.:: Of hsR0E or pratt.