Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1880-02-20
Escaping the Law.

Escaping the Law.
We have announced to us the terms OF |
the agreement just entered into by the
oil producers and association and the
Standard oil company, by which the
civil and criminal suits against the STAN
dard people are to he withdrawn in con-
sideration of the consent of them to con-
duct their business hereafter according
to the commands of the law. This, SO
far as we understand it, is about what is
promised on each side. COndOnement OF
all its Offenses is offered to the Standard
company and permission given to 1t to
keep the immense tribute it has gathered
from the oil trade in past years in con-
sideration only of its promise to behave
itself in future and to quit stealing and
do all honest business. Though its
members by this agreement confess their
wickedness and that they richly merit
punishment, they are told to go and sin
no more in truly charitable spirit which
ought to delight all good people. 1t may
not appear quite so commendable to the
worldly-minded whose experience has
taught them to believe that when they
have caught thief in the commission of
his crime and have him safely in custody,
Just ripe for certain punishment, 1t
is best to let the law take its
course and to distruSt the pro-
fuse promises of amendment which,
under the circumstances, the criminal is
ALWAYS ready to make. Especially is this
the dictate of common sense when a
hardened offender is in the tolls, who is GER
tainly known to have an evil heart which
nothing will restrain from wrOng-dOing
but fear of certain detection and punish
ment.
The Standard oil company people are
offenders of this kind. The oil producers
have an absolute certainty that they will
not do for them what the law will not
compel them to do, and not that much
if they can avoid it and yet they now
release them from the penalties of theil
previous law-breaking, and give them
a clean sheet to start afreSh. simply
and solely on their naked promise
enforced and protected hy no guarantee
of any kind. Its part of this agreement
the Standard company will keep till the
processes against it are discharged and il
is released from the tolls of the law that
are wound about it. 1t may keep it still
longer if it finds its account in doing SO
as very likely it may. BY its lawless Op
preston of the oil traffic it has waXet
fat and strong. and ought to have re
sources sufficient to enable it to hold ;
profitable trade in legitimate cOmpeti
ton. If is wise it will be content will
this. But it has so been addicted to evi
courses and to reaping the rich profits o
the highwayman that it is very doubtful
whether it will he content with the mod
crate profits of lawful business or vii
understand how to conduct itself will
proper regard for the rights of others.
1t is very bad policy to compromise ;
crime The law fOrbids it as to the NOR
grievous offences and the gross viola
ton of justice and right of which tn
Standard oil company has been convicte'
in popular estimation ought to hav
borne its due punishment us warning
to it and to all like offenders. 1t will b
public misfortune if the Standar
managers are not brought TO trial an
punishment if found guilty. 1t will Civ
free license to them and to Others here
after of like inclination pla
the same game in search G
the same great reward. 1t wi
he proved to he Il safe game. 1t will b
SO just as are the deeds of great crack:
men, which are safe SO long Us they al
profitable, and provide the funds wit
which to compromise and buy immunit!
The Standard company, gathering grea
power and wealth by violating the Law
secures it's deliverance when in the law
clutches, not even at the cost of restitl
ton of a part of the stolen goods, bu
simply by promising to steal no more
Could any example be more enticin
than this to men of evil disposition