Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1879-05-15
L.ass AND GOSPEL.

= passing sentence Upon them. In some in
stances it would be extremely difficult tt
tell whether the learned juiis;s had brcl
* educated Tor the pulpit or he bar. Indeed
they appear about equally well posted ant
explicit in one as the other. They are as
much at home. apparently. in theology ii
;, in legal Jurisprudence. and are as well pre-
II pared 10 give safe and sa;.;ary religious
instructions rs they are to eNpound and
: enforce statntary enactInents: and, what
G may he considered still more lprsarkable
they have no apparent hesitancy in deliver
0 ing themselves on one subject or the other.
t or both. as occasion may require. or as
circumstances may suggest. This. in our
e opinion, is quite a happy faculty. and so
e tar from deprecating the habit or custom,
we would modesily suggest its continu-
ance and that the custom be more general
" adopted by the Bench.
We know Of no good reason why a
Judge should not be sufficiently well post
ed in EoGprn theology to enable linn TO
give safe and explicit instructions on re-
lipious matters. nor. Tor that matte. why
his learning and clear conceptions OF Di
vine law should not be still farther utilized
by giving him an opportunity to occupy
the pulpit during his "lcisnre hours
This would not necessarily interfere
with bis proper judicial duies nor de-
tract, in any good sense. from the dignity
of his position. 1t occurs to us that if ar
Engagements could be generally entered in
4 to. whereby one man could and would
serve in the double capacity OF minister
and Judge. it might be q great saving OF
money to the people 1t would be cspeci-
ally advantageous to the communities OF
Montana. who find it so extremely diff
calt to support Il minister OF any denomi-
nation who confines himself exclusively to
his religious ceiling"
The foregoing and similar reflections /
suggested themselves to us on reading in !
the Recoyd OF the End inst. the address and \
sentence of the Honorable Court, at the |
close Of the trial and conviction. tor Ilur-
der. Of Cable ana Marsl. at Fort Benton. |
After stating in a clear and sensible way
the result of the trial and the inevitable
consequences OF crime. the Judge proceed
ed to say:
ut only remains for mr to add the clos
ing scene OF this trial. Lin doing so tread
an IRON pathway. | 20 but where the law
compels and duty leads. and this road
must follow to its appointed end.
From the bottom of MY heart pity
you. And if you have poor old mothers.
who are now in agony at the dreadful fate
that has bcfillen their once innocent boys.
may tie Infinite Father Of all give 10 them
comfort and consolation.
Turn backward the tide of years and
remember yourselves as little innocent
children playing in the sunshine of your
mothers holy love. Become again as such
children for such is the Kingdom of Heav. Il
en-. Seek the consolation OF religion. Re
pent of your sins. Look backward thro
the career that has led upward and on
ward in wickedness to the highest crime.
1t must be Il dark and dismal view. tor men
do not reach the crime of murder at one
leap. 1t lies at the end of an evil lite. |
is the crowning act ot wickedness born f
many other crimes.
Repent of all these other crimes thai
educated you up to murder. Bow down
your heads in sorrow and anguish at your
bloody deed that robbed your coml;,de OF
his precious life. and in agony of spirit ask
tile forgiveness Of your Heavenly Father.
who turns not Il deaf ear 10 the feeble cry t
Of any OF his children WHO come to Him
their sins and asking His for !
giyeness and pardon" !.
Then follows the death sentence, in usu- :.
II form.
Now. if the above is nota most felicitous
of law and gospel. we SHOULD
ike to know what is. Alter hearing OF
reading such an address. no one could GER
anly doubt for Il moment the ability OF
Judge Wade to act. most acceptably. in the
iouble capacity of .jurist and minister. In
saying this we do not hol that there is I :,
1ot an apparent incongruiiy between the !;
wo, especially as their tendencies and re- ;,
nlts are intimated in the foregoing adj
!ress tut. perhaps. the incongrllity may :
Ne more apparent than real, and might cas- ;,
ly be harmonized by legal lore. 1t may ;.
'ccr. of course. to men of ordinary in :
diligence that human enactments are sup
nj if so. one should be in perfect har- :,
nony and accord with the other. but. We
exc in the above address and sentence. that
ne civil law is made to punish evil dOnrs
hat it is ian iron pathway" and extends ;,
20 hope to the criminal. No amount OF -
ontrition or repentance will satisfy its ),
tern demands. No sudden reformation .
IN shield the offender from the keen sword
f justice. :,
On the other hand, we are taught that i! :,
) the easiest thing imaginable to cODciliate :,
Divine justice and obtain the favor of :,
leaven. little repentance. a few prayers. %
nj one or two gospel hymns" are suffi- :,
lent to atone for IA life of crime. though it .,
erninates in Il capital Offense and drops ~
s dark curtain on the gallows. This is !:
ne view that criminals are taught to take i,
I the situation. This the gospel taught :.
1 Judge Wade's address and it was strict :,
: in accordance with this theory and the :;
logy that Richards. the wholesale MUIR =,
.rer. after ascending the scatfold recently =,
! Nebraska. could so complacently and ~
'stily join in singing: 90
''The dying MET rsjoiced 70 see :.
That fountain in hi. day, =
And there may |, tho vile as he, di
wash all my sins away W
In al! seriousness. is it not high time ID
Ich sentilnenality and religious .'gl,sI" ne
ere superseded by a little consistency and re-
'mmon sense? The practice of building on
highway 10 glory for every bloodthirsty ca
lain in the country, then strewing that flI
lth with fragrant flowers of religious G.
'esy. is little less than placing premium or,
l crime and neutralizing every otherwise
holesome lesson taught by dlgniiied en-
rcementS of civil law
HE NORTHERN PACIFIC RAJ.
ROAD. F.,
Helena Independent l1th inst
We have been favored with the readino -,