Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-04-08
TIE sENEFtr noURE

Charity thinketh no eVil-Corinthians xiii 5.
In criminal cases, where the life or
liberty of the accused depends upon the
verdict of his peers, the judge, in summing
up the evidence and instructing the jury,
charges them, if they have a doubt of the
prisoners guilt, or that any part of the
accusation has not been proven, that they
should give him the benefit of the doubt.
Every individual in society is being tried
daily at the bar of public opinion, and his
or her reputation is the verdict. Before
courts of law no hearsay testimony is al
lowed, nor can any witness give his
opinion of the thoughts or motives of
the person on trial; facts and eye witness
es are required; besides a mans previous
character is strong evidence for or against
him, and in many trial an excellent repu-
tation has been skield to its possessor.
In the world, where each individual con-
stitutes himself both Judge and jury, the
rules which prevail in legal tribunals are
not respected, and man decides the NOR
al status of his acquaintance according
to his own prejudice or preconceived opin-
ion. A good reputation often is lighter
than a straw when thrown in
the scale against ones dis
like or enmity. When there are
rumors that mans accounts are not
straight, that he is not able to make the
books balance, before there can be any
investigation of his case, or he can speak
for himself, the majority of his acquaint-
ances try and condemn him. Indeed they
are seldom surprised at the denouement,
With great sagacity they had foreseen Just
such results. His style of dressing and
living, compared with his means, sug-
gested dishonesty. Perhaps two or three
among all who knew him express a doubt
of his guilt and ask for fair trial. Such
is the judgment of the world in a majority
Of cases that come before it. Previous
good reputation, extenuating cir
cumstances, doubts of guilt, 90
for little; if the sin is
not proven, the accused bears the onus Of
guilt always, as under the law of Scotland
the verdict not proven was the next thing
to beng found guilty. There are in every
community multitudes of individuals who
are shadowed by the improved accusations
of their neighbors. Some woman has
seemed too friendly or too familiar with
some masculine acquaintance, and other
women Of severe virtue accuse, try and
condemn her without the least proof of
her guilt. Another woman with a knack
of making old clothes Look as well as new.
always appears dressed stylishly and in
good taste. Unfortunately her husband is
on small salary, and the male and female
vultures of society scent carbon and
with their innuendoes do their
best to 'blacken her name.
How often do they say, SHOW she can
dress SO Oh her husbands salary do not
understand. 1 couldn't. 1t looks very
strange" Almost every gathering of men
or women resolves itself into a court of
trial where the regulations of unfortunate
individuals who have fallen under the dis
pleasure of the court are arraigned and
tried with the almost sure result of con-
viction.
1t is passing strange that the general
and popular style of the world is to Judge
their fellow-men harshly, always giving
the benedt of the doubt to the worst
construction of an act. There is a
seeming delight in holding up some
member of the community who
has heretofore been in good stand
ing as derelict in morals and impure in
heart. Little things, entirely innocent,
but capable of an evil construction are
distorted and magnltied until they become
mountain of wickedness for some one to
bear and good reputation is blasted by
the prevailing desire to think i'll of ones
neighbor.
If there was any doubt of the potent
reign of the Vii it would be dissip ated by