The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-03-15

vond be a complete pande II 1t were only
as commodious as the fabulous council chamber
OF EVIL demons. Night Is made hdeous by the
waiting OF fraI women, the bowling OF drunken
men and the coarse abuse OF remorseless keep
All these evils exist and are practlsed osten-
siby under the authority OF law. innocent per-
sons are constantly subjected to such baroarous
treatment ~ our police authorities. Men, wo-
men and children, who are spotless compared with
rne prosecutors who thus rob them OF liberty,
often suner AL this ana more III the nsulted name
OF justice suffer ana are silent-and still we are
reqn'fen To reverence the law and 10 honor tne
tribunal. Impossible,
Years OF observation have satisfied me that our
criminal laws are, In many respects, oppressive
and lnhunan; that The legal administration often
c0nceals and oeryerts the spirit of the law: thai
the tribunal Tor the immediate disposition OF
alleged onendcrs, II IL ever hai aay we'll founded
claims 10 respect, has degenerated into petty
despOilsnl, that Is neither dignIned by the eNer-
else OF lcason. u clear unders andine 81 TIE pul-
pose OF the law, nor so much as . decent respect
Of the old Romans, "Fiot jUsttia rtdt coetn, has
no place IN New York police court, and the
creature IL calls justlcen Is a miserable nag, as
heartless as she Is biind
This may be regarded as strong language; but u
single example WIZ Justly our condemnation OF
sanction OF the law. 1t VIII also enable your
readers to comprehend the manner in which the
most sacred rights OF thousands are constantly
violated. 1 extract the following from the
HERALD'S report OF recent proceedings az the
''Iombs Police Court IL Is a startling exhibition
OF Official recklessneSs, and orcbly illustrates the
method OF that tribunal III its administration OF
law and vindication OF the claims OF Justice:-
From the HERALD's report
he carly adjournment OF the courts ON saturday
crowded deal OF WORK ON the sunday returns at the
Toombs In anticipation of the rush Judge kasmire was
early hand and at work. The returns from the dir
ali OF which had to be dsposed Of before the
Iadse gSt ANY dhse At h1 pdss s ann M ne
Courl closed.
SHADES OF solon ana Lycurgusl did any man in
heathen lands ever witness more shameless
mockery OF Justice? what could magistrate. II
~ absolutely omnlscieut. learn OF the real merits
u many and such diverse cases IN so short
time Very tie, OF course; but. then, his days
WORK must be done, the last victim des patched
about noon. Or what consequence to him were
the rights or citizenship and the comfort and
health OF the persons at his dlspOsals Many lam
lies fed with apprehension, we're WAITING and
watching Tor the return OF the absent ones; but
tnat was nothing TO MIN. And wnat did he care
for spotless regulations and tae sacred boon OF
liberty when his dinner was waiting? Why, SIR
1t appears rom your report that the average time
taken to adludlcate case was less than hall ii
In democratic and Christian America. that an
Inferior magistrate, dressed In little brief
authority, may deprive men OF the sacred rignt
OF personal freedom "a freely as the heather exc
cuiioner Of an absolute despotism may whip OIL
heads II there Is no other way to terminate
this shameless lnlquity let us inaugurate peace
able revolution that snail turn ont ali the old law
makers ana the administrators or the justice that
Is no. only bind bat mpotent to defend the right.
The Old system Is leprous with hate ara cruelty
ard crime, and II should pass away from the
earth IL has so long dlstgured with dungeons ana
giDbets and dishOnored graves, and from the hu-
manly il has deiameo empittered and blasted.
me OLD system was founded on The idea ol the
innate total depraVIty OF the race-tnat Tor the
inherited and otner defects IN the moral consitu-
ton all mankind ought to be miserable here
and damned hereafter. But the world has so tar
out.rown this NEUROLOGICAL conception tnat IL
needs a new and more philosophical theory of
man. embracing an intelligent view OF all the
laws, relations ana possibilities Of hts being. Ii
needs legislators who nave some knowledge OF
human nature, and men TO administer tue laws
VINO KNOW nov 10 'remper justice with mercy"
Am aware that the community Is iu!l OF dis
honest and dangerous men. Criminals are an ill.,
evi.aDle product OF our imperfect society. 1hey
spring up as naturally as tnistleS grow IN canada
or toad-stools on dunghiil society Is respOn-
sibe Ior their existence, and should he held TO
rigid accountability. TQlS proposition may DC
disputed. buS 1t can be triumphanly defended.
We are accustomed 10 boast or the grandeur oil
our pCliucai system. but IN Its moral character
and aspects 1t sinks into the abyss. II we look
after 1t from the high standpoint OF our ideal Re-
pubilc dark cloud lntervenes such as might have
yelled the ancient Sodom.
During our FIRST hundred years the serpent has let
his trail IN every department OF government, from
the national ADMINISTRATION down to the smallest
municipality. Ana still we expose the uestinies OF
them into the hands OF men who are governed by
selfish amoition. representatives delber-
ately speculate In the rights and interests OF the
people, and the hands OF Senators are polluted
with brides. The State that permits all this, and
allows her officials to treat innocent citizens
with unmeasured contempt, eros Injustice and
positive Inhumauity needs to De thoroughly re.
formed on the principles OF political equality and
dlstrtbutive Justice. We shall look IN vain tor
better state Of things 80 long as ambitious lame
perqulstes OIL ONCE have precedence in the public
service. radical reform IL me only hope OF the
nation, and only by this means shall We teach the
careless ministers oil the law to recognize and ro-
spect the humanity in man. 5. u. BRITAIN.