Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1876-02-11
Even.Handed Justice.


When We behold the frightful multiplicity
Of crime throughout the country, permealing
rs il does, all classes, circles and conditions o
society, we do not wonder that so many
minds are busily employed in devisng schemes
of every conceivable character TO successfully
arrest it nor do we wonder that they signal
~ fail. Hunanizers have originated and or.
ganlzed institutions which they propose, by
the aid of moral suasion, to make the great
regenerators OF man; TO soften and subdue by
kind words and charitable deeds the 6ercel
brute characteristics of his nature make him
MS gentle and innocent as ii lamb, without
thought or deed of evil and bes,ow upon the
world Immediately the blessings of the prom
ised millennium.
While these schemes may be beneficial, 10 a
Limited extent, in controlling some few vicious
men, yet with the great majority, you might
as well seek to work marble with putty
chisel, as TO create regeuerating Influence by
moral agencies upon those hearts which have
been vulcanized by years Of experience in the
paths of crime. Nothing but the fear of pen
al consequences will deter such from the COM
mission of crime. Many, recognizing this
fact, have sought to plan and enact laws 10
meet the emergency, and they, too, have
failed in their objects but from the simple
reason that there is now in existence penal
code which human reason cannot improve
and which is fully adequate for the suppress
sion of crime, if justly administered. But
stances that the laws are not faithfully execu-
ted, and that the greatest Of criminals are suf-
fered to 90 unpublished, while the lesser ones
made signal examples of. The minds of
jurors and judges are Influenced by other mo-
lives than the desire TO administer justice ac-
cording to their oaths. Frequently, the
tempting alluremenls with which bribery in
vests itself acts as an irresistible charm in
leading them from their sworn duty, or politi-
eal policy calls upon them 10 acquit when
conviction might bring party into disrepute ;
hut much more frequently are they influenced
by the family connection and the social dis
tinc:ion of the party on trial. Sympathy ar
gues that the refined feelings of the higher
orders of society are more sensitive TO wound
of this character, and a conviction of the par
ty would not only be punishment to him,
but would send thrill Of mental agony
through the innocent members of his family !;
that the finger Of disgrace would not only
leave its indelibe mark on him, but would
east stigma upon his family and relatives.
II is, in our opinion, the infrequent visits Of
exemplary justice to the eided haunts of The
higher orders of crminality that teaches
crime to feed upon security and grow holder
aud more progressive in its Infamous enter
prises II the gold-encased aud diamond
studded swiudler and forger who struts amid
applause through the halls of social dislinc-
ton was rs quickly and sternly rebuked and
punished us the wretched tenant of some pow
erty-s,ricken hovel, who steals loaf Of bread
to feed II starving family, these monsrous
crimes which smrtle civilization with their
boldness and magnitude would cease to be
enacted aud live only as the base relics of an
imperfect and corrupt administration of law
Let the country learn that the penal code
was created for the protection of all men, and
that an infraction of i, by any one, no matter
what bis condition, shall be visited with ex-
emplary punishment let it learn that crime
ascends not 10 the position of the perpetrator,
but that the criminal sinks TO the level of his
turpitu1e; let it learn that justice shall visit
the palaces Of wealth aud society and the HOY
els of poverty and wretchedness with indis-
criminale wrath let it learn that the penal
laws shall be faithfully executed by judges
and jurors without fear, favor or affection
according TO their oaths and the remedy for
supprcssug crime will be found.
New TARIFF BILL The Committee on Ways
and Means has not, it seems, formally consd-
cred the new tariff bill, but Mr.. Morrison says
he has reason to believe the committee will
endorse aud the House will pass it. lie will
call it up 10 the course of week or ten days.
Meanwhile the protection organs all over the
country are vigorously denouneing the meas
ure, and predicting that if passed i: will have
the effect of running trade and commerce and
throwing hundreds OF thousands of men out of
employment The bill would do nothing Of
the kind. As the laws stand now they are
entirely in the interest of the monopolist.
BRlsrow AND BABcocK. A special from