The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1881-01-27

persons against whom there is not a fair
presumption of guilt. The states
attorney, or his assistant is supposed
to give his attention to cases BROUGHT
before the grand jury, and to have
agood deal of influence over its con-
illusions, There is reason to tear that the
abolition OF the grand uries would re-
suit in the arraignment in the criminal
courts OF large numbers of suspected per-
sons against whom there was no evidence,
thus wronging individuals and crowdng
the court calendars. A person whom it
was intended to prosecute would have to
give bail or go to Jail till the court could
try him, without having the evidence
against him examined by the grand inquest.
The merits of Senator Kuykendalls plan
depends, in some degree, on what its
details may be; but a proposition to abolish
petit juries and try accused persons before
judicial commissions, would meet with no
favor, in spite of the reputation of Judges
Tor fairness, and the many cases where
Jurors are incompetent or corrupt. Yet
such proposition would not be very much
more revolutionary than Senator Kuyken-
dal.s bill. The theory of the bill is good
enough; so is the theory of trials before
Judicial commissions; but Enghshmcn and
Americans are jealous Of trusting their lives
and Liberties to any class of officials"
The prophets of old have We'd with
each other in predicting disaster for the
present year. and almost every calamity
that human imagination can conjecture has
been set aside as the special inheritance of
this day and generation. The wiseacres
talk earnestly of the perohelion of the
planets and shake their heads dublouslv
the supcrstitous read the figure forward |
and then backward and find confirmation
II their fears and the crcduous accent fine
many prophetic utterances that have found
heir way into print as proof positive that
destruction is at hand. Although
t would be difficult 10 find
nyone who would admit his
it cannot be denied that there
more than the usual anxiety to know
THAT the year will bring forth. Aside,
owever from these iorbodings, we be-
eve there Is Just the least reason for alarm
'r some OF the people Of the Mississippi
alley and that, while in common with the
ISL OF mankind We are waiting for the
lIhllmcnt of the prophecy Tor what is more
robablc, It's non.fufllmenN, it would be
ell to take practical view of the matter
ut take more active measures to guard
'ainSt the evil. We refer to the extraor
nary rise that is likely soon to occur in the
isslsSppl river and its tributaries
irng the coming season The amount of
IN and snow tall during the present
inter- has been unprecedented, and there
every probability, that with the advent :
warm weather there will pour down
ION Us from the snow gorgcd mountains
d frozen lakes and rivers, such torrents of
'ter, as have not been known in many
ars. In June the river will be taxed to
fullest capacity, and safety demands
It all levees should he examined and, if
'essarJstrengthened and put in order. II
we'll enough to"trust in God, but be shure
o, to keep your powder dry" 1t is true
It our lcyees are in good
ldition, and are sure TO Withstand any 4
'lnary pressure, but i is not the part of =
dom to be entirely careless of what the
ure may develope. While we can rest p
irely secure, it is well to anticipate
thing that might even in the slightest
Jree, arouse the anxiety of the nervous.
I congressional men ufc active IN | |
ir efforts to secure government
for the Improvement Of the river, and
eventually succeed, but those people
1g the rivers banks whose wees do not
rd them the security that urs do, can
depend upon the government aid at the -,
ling danger for two reasons: First,
Md the appropriation now asked for be
lted, the greater part of it will be used pr,
the channels, and secondly,
government work could not be done in r.,
, to give them any relief this year. -
time may come when we shall have a
onal system Of levees, but the present 49,
'ssities should chiefly concern us now,
people who have any reasons to appre-
| danger from the coming mass Of water, .
I'D not allow lack Of vigilance to be
cause OF disaster to them They have
more reason to be alarmed at the conse-
ices Of this unusually severe winter
at the predictions Of "Mothcr Shipton"