Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1880-05-08

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FOR CRIMINAL JUDGE.
From the Saline county Progress. April 29.l
How often do we hear men say. after
the peace of our state has been t0ully
violated and a whole community out
ragged by some redhanded murder" Well,
the scoundrcl ought to be hung, but If
he can raise enough msney to fee
good lawyer he can get Off scot tree?"
And, alas. how often do men in all parts.
| OF the state take the administration OF
criminal law into their own hands, and
place Judge Lynch in the place OF the
criminal judge OF their district, rather
than see justice trampled under foot,
and blesdthirsty villains turned loose
to repeat their bloody crimes in a peace
iul and helpless community. All peace
lul and honest citizens abhcr mob law.
But what is it that drives them t0 it?
We say without hesitation or tear Of
contradiction. npeNc,ency and incon,-
potency Oh the criminal bench.
Now this Is serious question;
most solemn question. Do We wish to
preserve and protect our wives and chill
dren from outrage and violencep ? Do we
wish to protect the property we acquire
by the sweat OF honest labor from tho
thievish and often bloody hands OF the
midnight maraudcrp Then for the
sake OF all that is good and pure in hui
man lie. and for the preservation ot,
human lite itself, let US act IN the mat.
ter ef nominating candidate fer Grim.
inal Judge, like men 0t common sense
and prudence, and select the ablest
man, the irmest man, the most indus
| trious, energetic, strongminded, clear
headed and keensighted man we can
| find to protect the society of four coun-
ties of our great state. Think OF It.
four countles-thlnk Of the homes, the
| wives, the children, the strong men,
the noble youths, the innocent girls all
contained in these four counties! And
| all at the mercy of an incompetent
| bungler on the criminal bench, who
will let shrewd, sharp lawyers sqatch
every scoundrel from the CLUTCHES 6f
the law, who can raise a little money
Tor that purpose. We want compe-
tent man for criminal judge. We have
borne the taunts of being the "Robbsr
State" long enough. This rich garden
spot of the great Mississippi Valley must
not be cursed with violence and crime.
We want judge we can point to with.
pride US the boast Of honest men and
the terror OF criminals. We want this
unccrtatnty in regard to the punish
ment OF criminals to cease, as far as
skilltul, determined criminal Judge can
accomplish that object and then ii
there is anything wrong ia the criminal
law let us send men to the legislature
that will have the law changed. But
any sensible man knows that all these
nonsensical delays and tricks Of lawyers
TO cheat Justice can be crushed by the
power OF Il strong, well-trained criminal
Judge. Ii they cannot, then for heavens
sake let US have change in the law.
But we believe an able, stern, shrewd,
powerful Judge can prevail over the
wlies OF schemlng attorneys to a great
er extent than many suppose. Remem-
Der this. that when criminal Judge
biunders and betrays his trust there is
no appeal. The criminal can appeal,
but the state cannot appeal. The GRIM
! inal Judge is the greatest bulwark
which people OF this district have to
protect them from crime, and when he
betrays his trust God help the people
then. Send an incompetent man to the
leg stature. send bungler TO congress,
send elf your incompetents where they
can do as little harm as possible, but
for the sake OF decency give us COM
petent criminal judge. We have had
iacOmPetency on the bench and the
people are Tired of it. Give them a
rest. AsL
Don't let any past record unless it is
the record OF previous lncompetency in
the administration OF criminal law
affect yeu when you choose your dele. I
gates on the Sth OF May. Ask the men,
you propose to send to the county con-
vention. ii they are In favor of n0mina-,
ting the aGtest man they can find, the.
man most thoroughly versed in crlmi--
nal law, both by knowledge and prac-s
ce.regardless of personal prejudice If
they are not willing to do this, it Is ysur
duty to let them stay at home where
they can do this criminal district as lit
tie harm as possible. Crime is the
great enemy of prosperity. 1t kills; it
| blights; it poisons. 1t is moral mias-
ma and the children OF this land should
not be compelled to breathe it. The
young men ought to be made to feel
eAAeAe - thSy GohO tuC law luLO LQ0lE
hands nothing can save them from the
law.
Nothing but puuishment-pr prompt,
faH 0nd complete pUnishment-car-
rylng the law cut to the lettsr-can
avail to deter men from crime. Give
US criminal judge that will come
down OF the violater OF the law. and
the paid attorney who is trying to turn
nrit nal To
with an iron hand, and frustrate their
! little schemes against the peace and
dignity of our commonwealth, with q
knowledge OF the criminal practice that
will pierce their thin pretenses and vim,
dicate the majesty of the law. In the
name then OF the sacredness of human
bic, that precious boon which none can
give back when once it is taken away:
i'll the name OF the women and children
whom the pistol and the knife will 9TH
erwIse make homeless and desolate IN
this district; IN the name of the peace
and prosperity and happiness of our
people; that we may not be spoken
OF as a land of ruffians, where murder is
committed Tor rash werd, and the .
murderer walks redhanded in the sight
OF the orphans and widows he has
made and that this criminal district
may be the place to begin the reform in
the administration of criminal law which
VIII be followed and initiated and hon.
ored throughout the state, and not a
disgrace and by-word and place fer
criminals to take change of venue to,
III order to cheat justice. we beg the
iemocrats OF Old Saline to act like men
and send delegates to the county con-
vention, who will send men to Higgins-
vile on the 10th OF May, that will do
their duty and vote for the most COM
petent, active. skilltul, vigilant, clear
headed, welliniormed and trained law
yer they can find, ter the nomination
lor crlmlna! Judge Of this district. 2.
The primary meetings for this pur.
pose will be held in the various town
ships OF Lafayette county, Saturday,
May l5th-at the same time that dele
gates are chosen to the county conven-
ton which will send delegates
to Msberly and the convention to
nominate circuit judge. Reflect
well, citizens of Lafayette county on
the vast Importance Of this ole county
convention. Every democratic voter in
Lafayette county should 90 to his prl-
mary meeting next Saturday, May Is.