Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-07-06

against Sherman anu LIS SouS " PJ
and thieves. the theory that public sentiment
would be an adequate punishment 's sheer
raockery. From the very nature OF TINS
case. public sentiment is partisan in partic-
ular. Many Republicans are firmly OF
the belief that the pending prosecution IS
simply partisan device, conceived ana car
ried out for the purpose OF attaining some
nolitical advantage. No amount OF testl-
mony, no matter how direct or unlmp act1a-
BILE. will convince them that the President
and his associates have committed wrong.
They will steadfastly believe that the wit
nesses against them are perjured. These
will be always active in their sympathy
towards those they conceive to have been IN
iured. Misfortune and prosecution always
beget sympathy IN the human mind, and
the object of it is surrounded
as by bulwark against the
annoyance of unfriendly criticism
or hostile remarks, so that a man who is in
reality ostracised by the public at large, for
crimes committed, never realizes the fact by
reason of the quickened sympathy and in
creased faith of those who still cling to him.
Public sentiment is impotent to punish for
crime in every instance, and particularly
where the criminal is rich, and surrounded
by active and influential partisans, who take
the pains and have the power to bar the ap-
proach of all that will offend.
There is but one adequate punishment fol
the offenses that have been committed in
Louisiana and Florida, and that punishment
is prescribed by law. The crimes of bribery
perjury, forgery are punishable at common
law by imprisonment and fine. If the Pot
ter committee, having proved these crimes
shall stop short of the enforcement of thu
utmost penalties of the law upon those VIII,
have been proven guilty, it will be direl1ct o
its duty, and its labors will be of no avail
mere farce. The public must be given t.
understand that such crimes as these me,
and women have committed shall not be per
mitted to go UNPUBLISHED. If Sherman, b
reason of his high position, shall escap
punishment for bribery and subornation o
perjury, and Matthews, Packard, Kellogg
and others shall escape the penalties of thei
transgression, the punishment Of a score 0
criminals of less degree will be useless
If jerks and his wife, Anderson, Darral
Dennis, McLin, and the scores of other dis
reputable, self-conyicted perjurers are to g
unmolested, how can justice consistently b
melted out to Tom, Dick or Harry, VIII
may hereafter go on the stand and bold
perjure themselves, without creating su
preme disgust for the law and it's admins
traitors.
We insist that it is the duty of the Potte
committee to act firmly in this matter. Th
exposure of the mass of political rottennes
thus far made has been to some extent
benefit to the community at large, but til
actors in this tragedy have not been mad
to feel that they have committed crimes
On the contrary, they have been elevated t
the dignity of heroes in battle for right, {
martyrs to a good cause. 1t is not iustifs
BILE to commit a transgression that good ma
come, and when it is recognized that perjur
in any cause will be condoned, we may
we'll bid farewell to public truthfulness
once. Sherman must not only be made
feel the weight of public sentiment, but
must sleep behind prison bars. Anderson
the Jenkses, Darrall, Packard, Kellogg an
their partners in crime must do penance o
prison fare for their brazen disregard fe
the laws of the land. No less punishmer
IN II, -
means can these people and others be dete
red from repeating, at the first opportunit
} the offenses of which they have been guilty