New-York tribune., 1877-06-28


demagogues are peculiarly strong the lungs, aud the
less OF principle they the kess they are in
or the sole ude for ultimate results which in critical
times ofes weighs heavily npon the tres aha h
original champions OF great Sooner or later inc
comes with it the process of disilluson
pocrisy which deceived them they VIII go too Tar IN
their skcpiIcism OF all good and listen too much
for all snO'g prinSiUle. because because the names ppio
rcformer' 'Christian statesman have been DIS
graccd by knayos who have used them as CLOAK ior
rascality Thoughtful study Of human nature az Illus
trated by history would moderate The her9worshp anu
the need of unhappy reaction. IL would nave
tho effect discipline in intelligence always has OF
cultivaing sefTestraint and sound judgment ana Oh
receptions Of confidence men" upon the street or IN
politics Even here however history waTls us TO quaiy
our .ations and to remember that when We nye
done our hest TO reach sound Judgments upon current
themselves entirely from the passions OF the moment
AND their close proximity 10 great events VIII some
what mijudgc their proportions and Their per
POLITICAL AND COMMON CRIMES.
direction which need 10 be on cur guard
against mistaken and dangerous tendencies is found IN
the disposition 10 conound the essential character OF
political and common crimes 1t is hard, especially for
the unrenecting. TO understand how an ohense which
we clam the right 10 punish with death differ
IN moral character from theft, murder or arson Inc
,isPoo,%l"n % n i'o t.rtiy Lads 70 the cnYc,son
that ought either TO inflict no punishment Tor
political Ofcnse, We should regard tie offender MS
aleD into the same moral dcgIadatlnn anu tfP'uae ~
the coiamOnest feon and outcaSt during the neat OF
strong frciAg and Of icverish enthusiasm To make
possible the great deeds the great sacrifices upon
which success depcn1s, produces an unWihngness even
i'm the most temperate men, to think Of those things
which would rob his viii of more than half its force We
who, tbc hand, trying 10 overthrow insiiiu
lions upon which think the iapp ana progress ol
mankind depend Gr, on the ciEor iid, aie sekh2 10
fastcn upon Us what We regard as the chaihS Oh
In he scriptural assignment a time for all innge.
justly say there is time when iea may oc dtaf
10 appeals 10 ympaihYtO 20 the arguments that IeDeihoh
y D. b.
every thing in short which would weaken the rcs0c 10
dryc ucXorpy onward 10 the triumph oi the right as
We sec aud know H. But tncTe are also times when it
becomes sacred duty To calm the passions oi slie ana
10 give iuil weight and force 10 al TIE considerations Ions
wkch would dsarm vengeance and even seek win
earnest soicitude 70 revive al the sweet influences OF
CIENENCY IN VICTORY.
Men hove aways.prased The cemcncy OF corqaorcrs
uo only because showed the virtues Of amiabAity and
moderation because they have recognized tho SOUND
policy Of il, aud nave seen tat ii is N vast majority of
eases the way 10 desired result with least cost
In tie ease OF civil cOnyulsiops where the temptation s
greatest To- continue SufcIiugs OF uni,1 The
name % punishment for treason, II mas come - De au
scysrs penaIes have no yriuei they are extended
beyond very few persons NAV just be made exam
pies oi Even in these cases the object less 10 leiaAte
Tor the specific acts ley Eaye committed than TO naSe
pubic cNhibitoh of me lu1iclM c9hdHilnt.i" 80 @ ~
civilized community would revolt al wholesale eEtcu-
mons or lmiiiSohinss NJ sncn f" uhs. llo i" pi
thlupc o. philosophers W0lh heF th'l IonS9h y Ju,tJ ~
punished by death, but Cuy monster woGd draw ne
con as'on ai tho penalty may DC visited upon m"hs
Every law student recognizes malicious purpose an
eSs"aI c.cnCnt Of crime. He asO harms from ms 'e-
ncniail books TO distinguish between he wrongs "lnei
shock The common conscience o. men ana irose Whcn
III. vcen H0iq ia Sc ANA "a nstG PTchtbiH
j. tch ctse mast oc settled by sisac'ors Judgment
upon DO, circumstances, ior ~ IL must p' cNctp-
az M ~ ,1 ,,v 1irtincJ ME n IS an a,peaI
fuin the statutes of nations 10 tie rtstry lg"ls oi
humanity and those VINO make the appeal must 10 t
toir rcr thai ,eir course is one winch "il justify
tAom before Cod and men.
TREATMENT OF POLITICAL OFFENsEs
Consistently with yhis view Of the character oi mems
act us we ind The great and acknowledged authorities
drawing broadly the distinction between political and
conl.9on OEenscs their character aud treatment
Burke terse,y defines his and Lord CoGc's
oprions in h.t stirring passage of his plea for America
tbaf mo G.scs wie1 laav pessibIv ,.cSr RON mis-
taLcu not in ile cass Of infamous act"ns.
L ri coae the oracle Of INC Easi.h law c1riorms To-
81 tba hsh.ot uuniio.ly may he q" Tire icls il.-
grace" M Freeman, tie English historian OF ne Nor
iua" tongues ana "hom lHr HtS .c'u'i "ui,' % ."S
aIeaii rocolu zed as mas,ef IN his department Wri
mS dnnnt rGgiesa, oi oar own t'SrhJ {, i, s,i,a
a Ais History oi Iedtia GeNeihmcn's, Icl'c"'eS
the lessen. - hstOIIch sttdtl he saws, soon
learns that j. not morally he wore by being
Wng OF Tory. Catholic or Protestant. Arisi0cIHt or
D.11cr.t. Unouist - Confederate. He soNn learns 10
sympstL'le With individuals ainous al parties, BAT 10
decline 10 throw u lns lot uuresergedN eh any party
Ba' lC Uil not cW0 AS p0lct toeriu9n - iir as 10
1ue eraIpd w,icn his writer would determine the
practical mode teatr political oGenscs seems 10 bc
Zoe common en- nv Of soci,ty whose degraded selGsA
ma show s d ID 'n' Of iIe IorhN oilo" ViCo nom
ly ~ murder IA &, n,H who may really believe re
,, it,c.,I ,i,ati.n of our leNe even 10 the
cxunt of trta,ou. Bu should With equa clearness
rcr.Zc thc Guy LAID upon us 10 uphold whJ sceh, 10
~ the IcLt Cd. en- to She de- tfuctu and death, D need
b. lll vino ats chs it, Yet ~ hi' yieur of combat or
utLueAH lmuess of Judicial sentence be Incd D} re
l1acpic, laye Cndc.'soied to state 1t VIII 1e wholly
free the elements O personal ranc, az or 'tigcauce,
s wei from tie mingled horror and d'estatIon which
ar rightly visit Don rohner of aSo''sin. -
iiiliat" tdht ois az wen DO Nioh
o. iipc be ncari in contrt> growing out ct
tiuzoi Us that "yCua canco moi only dsn cures hui de-
s;Gos essential character OF justice, and passion ar
right. and even beyond is own purpose"
GENERAL ASSENT THE ONLY ANCHOR
Another maxim constantly recurring IN history and
almost as constantly forgotten in troubled times is th7t,
urdrr institutions al an Tree, solid peace can cny bc
bult upon the general consent OF the governed and
especially upon the assent and support Of the classes
winch u01dc tie intelligence the encrey and the capt
tai OF The community IN prsron',, an a. U,-ee; ~,
great revolt, history plainly teac9ca tha only one Ter
naiiyc IS open to TIE successful <pVcrnmeht-either
frankly tO giuic an liScls ol lhN '"nu"'I'u
10 SefgovevnEcDt ana impose upon dcspOtic foreign
ruc supported by arms or al once 10 stte p"h tue pcst
man Tor adjustment which obtain the active co.
oueratpn aud support 0i the classes nave named.
TAs does not mean that the advantage u sue
ccs. snail be thrown away; for people which
acknowledges tl il is conquered, and knows that the
have stated ~ least open To reason aud to conlder-
tious Of prudence hNprncnce. shows fhat men gen
sfrh 4 stre and yicd the orcic decision OF them;
while ID shows also with equal ceaness, that only what
is thus acGuiesced in is permanently gained.
Here again must recur % Guiz't Tor Tie most pll0
soDlc ana compacG statement of the doctrine am pre-
y itwg - long, said he, the ruling power is not
aro gcd and sInportcd 10y the men whose position,
whose interests and whose customs make them its nat
ura allies nothing Is completely settled nor SChdiy
based" lie gives to Cromwell the credit OF understand
ing aud acting upon this with the instinct Of great
stAt,smau indeed. ruicrs o. positive ability ana strong
character less likely TO efr in TINS matter than
mediocre men; Tor their confidence IN their own re-
eources and faith their own strength make uIem
estimate the DANCER of opposition less than weaker men