The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-01-22
Retributive Justice.

1t perhaps seems to some persons little
harsh to continue the black list of the men
who have been actors or official abettors in
the attempt to steal the State government,
as their utter defeat and downfall may be
sufficient punishment. But it must be re-
membered that they are still struggling in a
futile and silly fashion to carry out their
original design, and that, though the con-
splracy has broken down, some of the con-
spirators do not seem to realize the fact.
There is no sign among them either OF re-
pentance or works meet for repentance: and
mercy is not extended even from the source
of infinite mercy except upon penitence and
reformation. When there has been sur
render and acknowledgment of wrong then
there will be time to discuss the question OF
mercy.
Some of our friends urge letting up on
the conspirators as matter Of policy, but
what is the object of conciliating such peo-
pie? Can they ever become Republicans or
cease to be bitter Democrats? The gains
which the Republicans will make from this
business come from people who are shocked
and disguised by this wickedness, not from
men who sympathize with it.
Furthermore the question of party policy
has no place in this matter The extremely
conservative men who urge conciliation, ut
terly confuse in their minds the nature of
the case. 1t is not question of politics but
of morals, not a difference of opinion upon
public affairs, but of abstract right and
wrong. Had this conspiracy succeeded it
would have wrought incalculable injury to
public sentiment, particularly among the
rising generation. 1t would have made sue
cessful vice seem more attractive than de-
feated virtue, it would have exalted "smart-
ness" over righteousness. Andy yet it would
have succeeded had the lazy conservatism of
some Republicans pervaded the entire party.
Had not the great bulk of the party risen in
it's wrath, denounced early and late with in
dignant fervor the attempted outrage, and
worked with might and main to thwart the
conspiracy, fraud would now have been tri-
umphant in Maine and hurt would have
come to the moral sentiment of the State
which decade of indolent platitudes about
virtue and right doing could not have reme-
died. All honor, then, to the men who
have given their time, labor, thought and
enthusiasm to righting this great wrong
The least that those dignified and conserva-
tive gentlemen who have given no help in
the matter can do, is not to depreciate those
who have done the work. If every virtuous
man should sit back in lazy dignity and con-
tent himself with deprecating in solemn and
slow-moving phrase the conduct of malefac
tors, the Devil would have an easy time ir
the world.
Punishment should be meted out to the
men who have been guilty of this outrageous
attempt at fraud. Some of them, perhaps
who have stolen money or other tangible
things will find themselves in Jail, presently
but for the most of them the punishment
lies in the hands of the public at large. They
should be held as infamous. The two OF
three of them who have hitherto rated a:
respectable men, should not receive more
leniency on that account, but rather more
harshness as they have sinne1 against great
er light. 1t is the duty of all good citizens
to take pains to assist in this matter in or
der that the distinctions between right ant
wrong may be emphasized. The PRESS tries
to do its part by the publication Of the
Black List, which will continue at least 81
long as the conspirators maintain their oper
defiance of law and decency.