The Portland daily press., 1874-12-10
Wealth and Crime.

notice the potentially of wealth and infu'
enoe as means of escaping the just punish
ment OF great crimes committed against So
ciety. To be sure Txeed has been sentenced
to Imprisonment in the county jail, but that
event is due to the persistent efforts Of one
Judge, who was resolved to have the culprIt
tried by fair jury. How difficult it was to
do this and how numerous and serious were
the obstacles placed in the way of Judge
DAVIS in accomplishing the ends of justice,
all will recall who read the details Of the trial
of Tweed. Consigned to the Jail by the
court, one would suppose that Tweed would
be treated as other criminals sentenced for
lesser crimes. Not so; Mr.. Tweed does not
wear the peculiar uniform of the prison, his
head is not shaved, he does not eat the pris-
on fare or sleep in cell upon prisoners
cot. Wealth and influence, give him regal
apartments and sumptuous living. Thus the
ends of justice are defeated, and, worse :han
that, pernicious sentiment is inculcated
and widespread contempt for the laws and
those charged with their execution, is en-
gendered in the minds of majority of the
people.
The case of ex-senator Pomeroy is little
better. 1t has been proved that he attempt
ed TO bribe members of the Kansas Legisla-
ture by the payment oflarge Sums OF money
that he proposed, by the means OF his
wealth, to make himself United States Sena-
tor in defiance of the desires of the people,
thus striking blow at the fundamental
principles of Republican government. Mr..
Poneroy should have had an early and i'm
partial trial, and, if found guilty, should have
been visited with the severest penalty of the
law. Instead of being brought to trial, his
case has been continued from time 10 time
until many of the proofs of his alleged crime
have been lost and the witnesses scattered or
bought up, and, as the disgraceful end OF the
matter, the suit against him is to be dscon-
tinued. The fact is, he has been allowed to
tire out the law.
Next comes the case Of Mr.. Gage, late
treasurer of the city of Chicago. He had
become power in the city, speculated with
city funds, and when called TO account for
the same, was defaulter to the amount OF
$5O0,OOO. A few days since his trial was
concluded. The evidence was conclusive,
the judges ruling were most decided, but the
jury returned verdict of not guilty.
McIlrath after having been auditor OF Min
nesota for nine years, was found to be de-
faulter in the sum of nearly 100000. Had
he taken $40 from the till of his employer, he
would have been sent to prison. Having
taken this large sum, he has not yet been
brought into court, and when he is he will
be likely to go clear.
These examples might be extended TO al
most any length and taken from every depart
ment of business. Almost every day some
Credit Mobilier in connection with railroads
and other corporations is unearthed, saw
ings bank is ruined by the villainy of its Off
cials, or large defalcations are discovered and
traced to agents or other employees. Nor
does this immunity which wealth and posi-
tion in society give, stop with defaulteis,
bribers and thieves. 1t lets murderer like
Stokes 60 clear after four years in prison
while the poor ruffian who murders his man
in drunken brawl, swings for his crime.
The same potent power makes a complaisant
sheriff accompany Harry Genet, who had
stolen by hundreds of thousands, to his home
and while there allow him to escape, while
the ordinary thief who had stolen a coat
would not have been allowed to leave his
cell to attend the death-bed Of his wife.
To the honor of Maine, it has had no re-
gal rogues to deal with. The greater part OF
its defaulters have been punished as thieves.
The judges of the courts are above suspicion
while our jures are far above the average,
which is praise of doubtful measure. Yet
even with lis, money and influence, though
not used for corrupt purposes, but by its
inherent worth to the possessor, shield
the guilty. Does it not happen that the fel-
low who is picked up by the police for drunk
enness, is lodged in the police Station, while
the man who has wealthy connections is
taken home. and that the first is fined or sent
to Jail for his violation of law, while the
other never appears in the police court? AS
they are both alike criminals, they shoald
have the same punishment. Indeed, If there
is to be any discrimination, it should be in
favor of the man who has all his life been
shut out from the cultivation, and is strang-
er to the restraints of good society.
OF course many evils result from this fav-
ortism in the execution of the criminal laws.
The mass of the people begin to think that,
like the old despotisms, we have privileged
classes. They may not claim to rule by the
grace of God, but by the power of money
they blunt the edge of the sword of justice,
which is swiftly borne against the poorer of
fender, and thus the gulf between the rich
and poor is widened instead of being closed
up, as the genius of our government de-
mands. Another and alarming evil growing
out of the fact that great criminals go un-
whipped of justice. is the influence it has in
deadening the moral sensibility of thousands
of young men. To see wealthy men moving
in society and recognized in politics and bus
iness circles, who have escaped the peniten-
tiary simply by their wealth and influence,
must inevitably lead the young to believe that
to be honest is to be foolish, and that wealth,
no matter how attained, is the one thing to
strive after.
l. al InC