The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-06-12
From the N. Y. World.
The Pardoning Power.

The Joliet Gill; Republican publishes
some figures with regard to the exercise of
the pardoniDg power in that state which
are of more than local interest at this time
when the treatment of criminals is SO
widely under discussion. There were, it
shows, 81 pardons issued during the year
ending December !, 1870; So in the next
two years, Sc in 1873, 80 in 1874, and IS
from January to May %, 1875 or at the
rate of 2l4 a year. This remarkable in
crease in the abuse of the executive privi-
lege is in some measure to be attributed to
the weakness of personal character of Gov
ernor Beverage, who not only is very I'M
willing to refuse any appeal for mercy, but
is most susceptible to party influence, and
in such matters as the pardoning of Han
dy Andy" and Cullen the embezzler, has
offended irretrievably against sound pub
lie opinion. In four months he has par
doned out seven murderers committed for
| life. One has served IA years, one
| 9, two 8, two 7, and one 4, making the
average of life-term in Illinois little
over 8 years. Each one of these seven
men should have been hanged immediately
after conviction. In at least two instances
these murderers were discharged solely
because such distinguished Radical gentle
men as Messrs. Hawley and Snapp de-
sired them to be turned loose on people
who haye Threats to cut. Long term con-
victs Jared as fortunately; one gentleman
sent up in 1872 for twenty-four years and
another in 1871 for fourteen being among
others, enlarged. Since December l,
1874, twenty eight convicts sentenced in
1874 to terms of Imprisonment varying
from one year to six have been set at lib
erty, and young as is the year 1875 six of
its prisoners have gone free. There are
also 500 applications for pardons pending,
most OF which are backed by the all-pow-
erful politicians.
| What is true of Illinois is in greater
or less degree true of almost every state in
the Union. The gallows has practically
been abolished in America, and the prison
and penitentiary have been robbed of their
terrors, and so become merely pleasant
places for short sojourns, Unhappily, the
convict who is enlarged on such slender
provocation is, as rule, the man to whom
clemency should not be extended. He is
either the hypocrite who has taken wine
with the chaplain to good purpose, or the
professional criminal who has purchased
pardon with share of his swag or the
political influence of his gang. The NOR.
bid sentimentalism Of the public mind the
activity of professional agitators. the pre-
valent unrest and excitement in politics
| these have had their evil effect. Hanging
is played out: we cannot abide the neces-
sary cato mine tails; between good con.
duct deductions and the pardoning power
, the convict's sentence is shortened by
about eleven months in every year. The
field so sown and cultivated is yielding as
abundant crop of crime as could not be
desired. Horrors" and tragedies" are
of every day occurrence, and the Bender
of yesterday is eclipsed by the Pomeroy OF
Piper of to day, who in turn will pale his
Intellectual fires before the more ravenous
wild beast of to morrow Even 10 Cana
da where they we're went to perform some
ljudicious hanging on occasion, the number
of capital sentences committed is yearly
becoming greater and consequently crime
is more prevalent. We have seen in Iowa
J during the past twelve months that the d.
rect and speedy result of relaxation of law
is anarchy, tempered weth lynching; and
in Illinois. with maudlin mercy in the
Gubernatolial chair, the chief city of the
state surrendered to the rule of its vilest
elements, and crime everywhere rampant
it would SEINE as if the condition of affairs
was even less tolerable, being, as it is, un
relieved even by the rude vengeance of the
Vigilantes.