The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1872-08-01
THE BRAINERD LYNClIING.

Before the military companies sent
on last Thursday by Gov. Austin t.
Brainera had reached the scene Of re-
ported troubles, orders were telegraphed
them to return, all but twenty-five men
who were to go to Brainerd and re-
main until further notice. The danger
had been greatly exaggerated, the lodi
ans having made no threatening dem.
onstrations whatever.
; if lynchiog was ever jn~t'6 .ble, il
doubtless was in this case. The massa-
ere and burning of the Cook family
at Oak Lake had but just occurred near
By, aud the sickeniug details were
fresh 10 the mind Of the community
when the fendish manner Of Miss. Nc
Arthur's death became known. The
self. confessed Oak Lake murderer lay
in Jail at St. Paul with his tate still ur-
decided, and these two were in much
less secure confinement. But mob
of men can never be judges, especially
in a matter in which their passions are
80 deeply aroused, and any attempt to
take the execution Of tho law out of
the hands Of its properly constituted
officers deserves the severest condemna-
ton. There can be no civilization with
cut law aud order.
A very unwise law in our statute
books, and one to which this paper
called the attention Of the Legislature
at its last session, is largely responsible
for the existence OF sentiment which
leads to violence and disorder. BY
this Act murderer, no matter how
guilty, or how terrible the circumstau
ccs attending the commission of his
crime, may escape with life by plead
ing his guilt. A plea Of guilty does
away with jury trial, and under this
Act only jury can pronounce the
death penalty. If tried, these Indians
would have had to be tried by cur State
courts aud would have had all tho ben
edts Of this law. The Beaver case, in
this city, when wife.murderer-who,
with the blood Of his victim fresh on
his hands, declared he would do again
what he bad just done-cscaped with
imprisonment for life, is IN instance of
its operation. So long as this law re.
mains in force, just so long will men
have pretext for acts such as that
witnessed ut Brainerd.
The Mankato Normal School is over
$4,000 in arrears for the current year,
and Unless the citizens make up the de.
ficiency tie school will not be opened
until December. The Mankato Union,
in discussing the matter, says: "The
Winona school is in the same con-
dition, while the st. Cloud school
under economical m anagement, ha:
nearly $4,000 10 its treasury The
St. Cloud school, with an appropriation
Of but $4,000, and very limited &C.
modations, graduates as many teacher:
as the Winona School with $4,000
and within two to as many as the Man
kato School with $4,000.
The organization Of the Graut aud
Wilson club Of St. Paul was com
pleted on Tuesday evening, by tn
election of the following officers:
President-H. A. Castle.
Vice Prssidents-Russell Blakeley. A. B. stickney
@. II. Schumacher, Fred Lubrcson, Lewis Lewiston
rill.
recording secretary--Frauk Es1rchild.
Corresponding secretary-H. r. Brill.
Treasurer-Jas. Davenport
The Club ia enthusiastic ADD II
splendid working order.
WABAsHAw County matters are il
an Interesting condition. The Count.
Auditor, F. E. Stauff, has preferre'
twenty charges against J.. NJ. Gregg
County Commissioner involving bribery
populations sud malfeasancc generally
Mr.. Gregg retaliates in couute
charges. a commission has been op
pointed by the Governor to look int
matters.
SENATOR SUMNER has at length
given utterance to the long put.u
feelings Of his political bosom, and dc
c'arcd for Greeley in letter thu
acvonJ, ooor oolrooo II - hut q ron