New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-03-15
yEW-yERSEY SENTENCE.

There can be no sadder spectacle than tnAt
of a man sixty years old. who has been trusted
by his State and found feloniously wanting,
and who is standing in tears mt the bar OF
Justice to listen to the Judgment which con-
signs him to ignominious and labOri0us impris-
onment. At this time, when the public mind
is unusually interested in the matter OF Off
cial mafeasancc, it may be dismally cOnsol-
ing to know that SoOy. the defaulting State
Treasurer of New-Jersey, was sentenced on the
18th inst. to confinement in the State Prison
for a term of three years. In this case no
time has been wasted in talking of impeach-
ment and no difficulty experienced in finding
ont sufficient and legal way of dealing with
the offender. No lawyer stood by the old man
to offer some ingenious motion in arrest of
Judgment. None of the friends" with whom
the culprit riotOusly wasted tho pilfered
money of the public were there. Only
the son Who with filial piety, has supported
his father through all these dark days
of disgrace, remained at his side during that
last public ordeal. sharing in the shame and
speaking such words of consolation as were
possible. There were no official associates to
interpose between the dishonest Treasurer and
the law; no Governor was understood to sym
pathize with him, and no political party 80
deprecate the disgrace Of political brother;
no allowance was made for high social posi-
ton !" and to-day the dishonest man wears
the livery of the convict with no special indul-
gences and with no hope of pardon.
There are evils which cure themselves. The
plea in bar of responsibility" has been used
80 often, and so often with comparative if
| 4. hat. ln1ft ha
of novelty, and iuries are upon the alert
against the influences of previous good posi-
ton in society,"" and even of previous good
character. There is less and less a disposition
TO permit a wrong-d,er TO escape the cOnse-
ouencrs Of his tort because he is well educated,
dresses well, has money, and has heretofore been
more OF less a great man. The mIschiev
GUS absurdity of certain verdicts has become
more apparent through their multiplication.
Society may be shocked, fashion may he
astonished, churches may be Grieved, parties
NAV be embarrassed, families may be dis
tressed when defaulters are sent to State
Prison, but they are more frequently sent all the
same The wrath Of defrauded Taxpayers in
the days of heavy and miscellaneous taxes is
not easily Modified; stockholders who depend
I
are not disposed TO be forgiving; and the MGR
chant whose name has been forged, feels a sense
of personal injury almost as great as that Of
the victim who discounted the spurious BILL
| The fact is, honesty in money matters is pre-
ciscly what society cannot afford to dispense
with. An honest State Treasurer is of impor-
| lance to every citizen. just as an honest cash
Ter is of Importance TO every stakeholder of a
bank and TO every depositor. Somebody must
be trusted. and unable TO escape this extern
sion of our confidence, We are growing less and
less tolerant toward those who abuse it.
There is little need that we should rush into
any increase of penalties. The laws, if only
they are enforced, are already strong enough (;
and if we should undertake to hang or to de-
capitate for peculation and uncleaDneSS of
official hands, there would be no greater GER
tainty Of reform than that which an unilinch
ing enforcement of existing statutes will
afford. Let it be understood that cheat is no
less cheat because people have voted for him
or Presidents nominated and Senates confirmed
him-no less q cheat because no has been
able long to dissembe and cloak his
knayery. When, in all cases of guilt, jurors
say Guilty" and Judges shak, their heads
at dilatory pleas, and the Pardoning Power
always resOlutcly answers "NO,' except in
very rare cases OF new discoveries, we shall
have left only the duty of refusing to vote for
doubtful characters because they happen to be
the candidates of our party.