The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1875-10-21

VI Va bls 40 HPlSOOphl
Bishop of Illinois, and there is now no
doubt of his receiving almost a unani-
nous vote.
--SAs---
THE terrible increase of crime within
the last tew years in our immediate vi
cinity, as well as in almost every other
part of the country, forces the question,
sis our system of procedure against
and punishment of criminals all that it
should be?" We see ON the one hand
the arrest of prisoner and his arraign-
ment, trial and execution follow each
other with wonderful promptness. There
is scarcely check in the proceedings !;
no interpositions for producing delay,
no strenuous efforts to extenuate his
offense, relieve him OF his terrible ac-
countabbity or save his wretched lite.
He has neither money nor earnest and
influential friends, and the course OF
justice is SO speedy that even mercy has
scarcely an opportunity to make her ap-
peals. On the other hand where the
crime is just as great, ard perhaps the
sense of responsibility far greater from
the criminal being a person of more
intelligence, the result is often the very
opposite. Friends interest themselves
in behalf of the offender; able and zeal.
GUS counsel take up his defense
every possible hindrance is put il
the way of the progress of jus
tice; the crime is palliated; the
responsibility of the accused brought in
question; public sympathy appealed to
and no effort spared to the last moment
to prevent or mitigate the penalty. The
end is that the prisoner is either alto
gether acquitted or his punishment is
made so light that the people consider
that justice has been cheated OF its
right. Continuous atrocities and neg
people to demand that something be
done. Then comes mob law with its
terrible effects on the community, and,
above all, its awful mistakes. But a
few days ago body of well-meaning but
excited citizens in Pembroke, Massa
chusetts, desired to hang all unfortu
nate man who was found in the woods
at the time little girl was most afro
eiously murdered. The crime was one
calculated to arouse all the feelings
that call for revenge. But the advice O.
the more cool-headed prevailed and the
neck OF the prisoner was spared. In &
few days the apparently strong array o
evidence against him was explained
away and he is now believed
not to have had anything
to do with the horrible deed for which ne
was arrested. Another instance much
nearer home might be cited where. in tht
excitement following one terrible crime
the people were moved to commit an
other. These acts do not arise from {
desire to take part in such scenes, bu
from loss of faith in the power o
courts to render even and exact justice
The people feel that something must b,
done, and in doing the only thing in thei
power they contribute still further to
wards unsettling the means of securing
a calm and steady administration o
the law. The press, too, is somewhat re
sponsible for the present state Of taingi
in that it does not in all cases inculcatt
those sound principles that create re
speet for the courts and a determination
to elevate them to the standard that ;
fair administration OF criminal laws
seems to require. The New York World
Atew days ago, speaking Of the gian
prize-fghter, O'Baldwiu's death, il
consequence Of bullet from tn
pistol Of his partner, took occa
sion to rather rejoice that tn
huge prize-fiyhter had gone to hi
last ring-six feet plus, instead of TWEEN
ty-four. Whatever the character of
man, society can scarcely afford to re
toice over his death, slain by another a
lfhe were dog. And SO thought tn
New YORK Herald, which called fo
"equal justice to all, and eondemne,
the comments of the press, which gener
ally expressed satisfaction because G
the killing of the giant fighter. II soc
ETY. is better off by the killing OF such
man, it does not follow that the name
and means Of his death are unimportani
And the same may astruthiully be sal
Of the work Of mobs that take tn
rendering of Justice into their ow
hands. II they rid the world of Grim
nails they generally do much more harI
by unsettling the even course that jul
tice should be left TO pursue. The law
and tue courts. properly administered
are alone the proper means to del
With all criminals, and as the Heral
Aptly remarks, there should be but on
rule Of punishment FOR all classes. il
ries are altogether too much in the hab
,of inding verdicts according to 'thel