The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-06-07
Select the Best.
10 the Editor Of the Comet !:

10 the Editor of the Comet
The voters of the State now have il i,
n their power to strike an effective blow a
lawlessness and crime. The laws may bt
wisely framed, the Judges honest and able
o ana public sentiment sound; but unless
the State is properly represented in all
criminal prosecutions, crime will not re-
d ceive its merited punishment.
Those charged with crime have at their
. command, the learning, experience and
ABILITY OF the bar, and they seldom, and in
important cases, never fail to avail them
selves of it. The District Attorney stands
smgle-handed and alone, as the representa-
tive OF the supremacy of law, whilst those
charged with its violation, have as their de-.
tenders and champions, not one merely.
but as many lawyers as they or their friends
may believe will be of use to them. How
unspeakably important is it then, that only
the best and ablest lawyers, whose services
can be commanded, should be selected to
represent the State in criminal prosecutions.
Inc salary of the District ATTORNEY is
fully equal to that of the Judge, and were
the people to will it, this office could alwavs
Dc hlled from the front ranks of the bar.
But seemingly, the people are now taking
but little interest in the candidates for this
important position-importan because so
Intimately cennnected with the enforcement t
OF law, and the punishment of crime. q
Ahefe are now many candidates for District +
Attorney, in the field; but my observation
49, that but few of them are lawyers who r
would be selected by sensible business
man to represent him in an important case, v
'iYil or criminal. Those who chafe under !,
ne restraints of law, or who, from inter- IL
'sted motives, are opposed to its uniform te
md rigid enforcement, are generally found ri
antagonism to the right man for this II
fhce; and, what is public calamity, vice tL
nd laWlessnes are apt to be active and ae- n,
ressVe In elections, whilst the law abiding ms
nd good citizen, is no less promo to be un- an
emonstratiye and passive This is not as wi
should be. The law-abiding, educated th
nd religious classes, ought to take a more tic
'tve part in elections than they now do. ia
he power which their training gives them, sv
IN be welded with great effect, if they We,
Ill only put themselves in contact with 40
@ people and work patiently and earnestly tio
r the public good. 1t is true, in such
'ervice as this, they will encounter no end
discouragements; but this is the kind of
rVlce to which patriotism and Christianity
lite In summoning them, and the urgency
tne summons can hardly be ooerstated. is
10 college Instructors will do well to teach bee
'ir young men political science; but they it.
Il do better if, by precept and example, Jac
" teach them the supreme o6Eiqotions of t
'zenshsp, and SO train them that they dro,
I'll seek to carry into politics not only 8, v
learning that they have gained, but bou
d morals and patriotic sentiments. IL.
The office of District Attorney is one tell
ch, of all others, ''should seek the man, 7, "
not the man the Office To bestow it chul
favor or pension, or from any motive was
that of fitness and competency, is in IL
We wrong. Then why the present preva- were
apathy on this subject; and why is it, Egyl
that that the press does not sound the Jose
M and warn the people, that if they and
Id have lawlessness suppressed, crime At, v
Ished, and peaco and order prevail, they hone
t keep out of the Office of District At. 1t ha
ey, the inexperienced, the unlearned, to gr
the Inefficient, and elect to it only those, haps
from their learning, experience, abili- ed ur
Id force of character will be able to the
I'D the rights of the State and the Isaial
of truth and justice, against the com. than
efforts and influence of all transgres~ ''Gos
and assailants. CITIZEN. town