Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1874-05-08
Miscellaneous. q
Crusaders in COurl

Last week, while Judge Junkin, If New
Bloomfield, Perry county, was holding the
regular term of the Cumberland cour at
Carlisle, the Court room was visited b,
large delegation of ladies, who presented
to His Honor petition asking for a rigid
enforcement of the local option law. The
scene was novel one. Judge Junkin re-
ceived the delegation eourteously, and
made reply to their petition, which pos
sesses so much of significant force, so time
ly and appropriate, although there is a vein
Of gentle reproof pervading it, that we pre-
sent his remarks entire, as we fnd them
reported in the Carlisle Vol,mteeT. We
certainly could furnish no more interesting
reading, although it occupies almost our
entire available editorial space. The Judge
said
LADIES We have anticipated your COM
ing, and yet we do not conceal our surprise.
1t is probable that since the organization
of courts of justice, the like has not occur
red There must be some grave cause in
ducing you to leave your domestic cares,
and present yourself in the character of Pc
titioners ard being here, it will not be our
fault if you go away empty handed. You
will now hear what you have not hitherto
had the means of knowing.
Your petition implies much more than
your innocent hearts have dreamed or in
tended it means one or two things, if not
both, whether that this court has failed
in its duty in the past, or intends to do so
in the future. We are satisfied that you
have arrived at this conclusion honestly in
the usual womanly way. Some one told
you, and your hearts have gone out in a
good cause, and your zeal has made your
present action duty.
Has any of Yon ever taken the pains to
examine the records of this court 10 see
how many men and women have been pun
ished within the last one hundred and fifty
day. for.selling liquor without license For
your information the clerk will read the re-
| cord. Clerk record as follows:
1t shows that twenty persons have been
convicted and sentenced, all for the first Of
tense, and the fines exceed 5000, and with
costs quite 81, l,OOO-in all 1900.
You thus perceive that the fines and costs
inflicted within six months exceed 8, 900.
The number convicted IS twenty and the
numter acquitted one only. Now, ladies',
what hink you of this Does it occur to
you that the court has been idle or indiffe-
rent +? Had you heard Of this before You
will remember that these are unimpeacha-
BILE records. They impart absolute verify.
They will remain and speak long after all
now present are dust. Have you heard
any person speak of this evidence, or have
your advisers been so unjust as to sonceal
all this If they have failed to inform
you of these facts they have borne false
witness against US -foc concealment of
truth is the equivalent of Gslsehood. You
will be just-let others do as they will.
You are far too pure in heart I, intention
allv wrong by word or deed, tribunal
which its own self respect eompels to ST.
lence, aad which is not expected 10 enter
the field in self defense and We recognize
our obligation to you for the opportunity
and occasion your presence gives for point
ing to the records of the court as its shield
against assault. The duties of the court
are often delicate and intricate to weigh
out the precise measure of punishment.
The local option principle is, as you are
aware, an experiment, and its abrupt en-
forcement is attended with great difficult
ties. You will remember that it cut up
large interests by the roots, and from this
has sprung bitter and determined opposi-
ton, such as never before has manifested
itself against any law of this Common
wealth, and there is no question but it en-
counters the hostility of majority Of the
voters of the State. But you answer the
law is strong. Yes, when public senti-
ment backs it up-then it has great majes-
ty. You will remember that it has no
armed force at its command ordinarily-it
executes its purpose in silence-depending
on its own inherent justice for respect. You
will readily see some of the difficulties in
the way of the perfect enforcement Of this
particular law.
We say to ysu, that there have been as
many punished for violating this law in
Cumberland as in any other county of
equal population in the Commonwealth. In
In Junlata county there have been four-in
Perry not one.
But you have been told, and this you
cannot deny, that the sentences have been
light, the court too lenient. The punish
ment for the first is fine from $50 to 5000,
for secoud and subsequent offense fine of
not less than 800, and in the discrition of
the court Imprisonment not exceeding
ninety days.
Now, there can be no convictions save
for the first offense, so that IMPRISONMENT
ruuid not hitherto be added 20 the fine.
You understand the Legislature fixes the
punishment not the court-the discretion
between the minimum and maximum Is
left to the discretion Of the court.