The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1879-12-25
save Your Linen, Gentle men.


who take every opportunity to go of on tb,
high morality dodge in the belief that the pm b
lie will bold them to be possessed of Spartan
virtue and courage, but they oftener than other
wise slosh around promiscnously for nothing
Our article in reference TO the refusal of the
Governor to pardon Maj. +. p. Bancroft, has Gel
this tribe on the war-psth. Tho Indepe ndence
Tribune delivers itself Of the sentiment that .
man Of high character and standing who once
commits crime, should be punished more Sc
verely than q confirmed criminal, of whom moth
ing better be expected 1t is matter of taste,
| and the Tribaae is welcome to its opinion on
this subject. Another paper down in Southern
Kansas, called the Winfield Ssm: Wsekiy, pur-
porting to be conducted by Conkiia BrOthers,
of which somebody sends marked copy, is
iu bad way the same article. In fact,
Couklin Brothers hy all to pieces, and make q
bad job for the washerwoman. After exhaust
ing their cvet- pouch upon the editor Of the
chief and others whom it pronounces bilks,
thieves, etc, Conklin Brothers settle the whole
matter by pronouncing Gov. st. John a Christ
ian, and an officer who conscientiously enforc es
the laws, winding mp with the prediction that
be will he re nominated aud reelected.
Now, allowing these editors the privilege Of
their own opinions, and their right to sling
stink, let Us see what all this is about. Major
Bancroft was man Of high character and pnb-
lie spirit, who, in time of financial emblrrass.
ment, committed a crime. He is not accused of
having ever committed any other crime. He
was sentenced to the penitentiary, and has been
there for more than year. None of his friends
have said this WAS unjust they agree that he
deserved punishment. Is punishment for re-
vengef II it is, then they had better keep him
in prison for the full term of his sentence But
if it is for better purpose, then Maj. Bancroft,
By the imprisonment he has already undergone,
has suffered as terribly as he would if he were
kept there twenty years. If he is kept for the
full term Of his sentence, it will be better for
him or for the community than # he were set at
liberty now. Nobody believes that he would
commit another crime. He is not a man whose
business was preying upon the public but be
las large business interests that are suffering
and which need his attention, and by attending
to which, he could retrieve his fortunes and his
stan ding, AID at the same time benefit the COM
munty. Is such man to be classed with con-
frmed malefactor, whose business was crime
Is one who knew him in his better days, to be
smeared all over with foul gobs of filth, for ex-
pressing sympathy for him, and entertaining the
opinion that he has already received all the
punishment that is necessary for his own or the
public goodi
The conscientious and Christian character of
Gov. St. John, is subject which his claquers
are constantly holding up to the public gaze, as
if it were too small to be perceived with the
naked eye, unless special attention is directed
to it. 1t is question We have never discussed.
We have felt that the people of Kansas would
dispense with his services, at the earliest oppor-
tunity, and that he might rest undisturbed in
the possession of this virtne, either real or i'm
aginary. But since his friends have raised the
question, let see what strict and law-abid-
ing officer he is-rather, let us see whether he is
exercising his unimpeachable virtue at the ex-
pense of prominent men like Maj. Bancroft, be-
cause thereby he draws larger attention, while
refusing to execute justice upon criminals thou
sand times worse. The laws Of Kansas say
that person convicted of murder in the first
degree, shall be sentenced to remain in the pea
itentiary for the period of one year, when, upon
the order of the Governor, he shall be hanged. |
This is the substance, perhaps not the exact |
wording of the law. There are number of
murderers in the penitentiary, under this SEN
tence-men who murdered their wives or friends, |
or murdered strangers for their money, or com
mitted murder for revenge. Some of these have |
completed the year of their imprisonm ent since |
this conscientious, law enforcing Cover nor came |
into Office. How many of these murderers has |
he executed the sentence of the law upon: Not |
one. The time for their execution has D assed, |
and henceforth they remain in the penitentiary, |
with their chances to escape-some of them,
perhaps, before Maj. Bancroft's time expires. |
This Christian, law-euforcing Governor refuses |
to enforce the law upon red handed murderers,
guilty of the greatest known crime; but with /
Roman firmness he refuses to pardon man of q |
lifelong good character, except in the one in
stance of committing one of the lesser crimes
a crime against no man's life or limb or liberty,
but one of property, which may, in time, be
made good. There is your conscientious, Chris
Iian Governor! Dip him up, and pour him over
the next Sunday school OF temperance meeting.