The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1883-06-27
raE ETHICAL EsrIMATE OF THE IN
FORMER

caused considerable discussion Of the ethics
of such conduct as these worthless have been
guilty of within the past few months by ap-
pearing as witnesses against their former
in crime. Many have COLI
tended that from any point of view their
turning states evidence against their for
mer accomplices, was baser and more con-
temptible than the original wrong DONG
while others insist that such men are TO be
commended and upheld rather than crit
icised for "givipg away" in the interest oil
morality and justice the hidden sources
and closely guarded secrets Of crime
Whatever may be the arguments sdduced
rom q standpoint Of manliness and iaii
dealing between man and man
however low they may have
fallen, there can be from a mora
patriotic and economic point of view, bu
one side TO the question. When men hav'
forfeited the respect and confidence OF thei
fellowmen, when they have declared wal
against society and morality, they cease II
be entitled to that treatment from societ!
or their fellowmen that is accorded from
standpoint of right and common justice II
those who have kept their estate. III
mans lite can be destroyed by society h
has certainly no right to suppose tina
society will heed his false and baseless as
sertion that there should be honor among
thieves" If his life is taken it would be ,
mockery to say that it was base or unjus
to arrive at his conviction by methods
which excite his Indignation. A man who
has forfeited his life has forfeited all the re
gard and tender sraciousness that surround
that life when it is properly directed. &c
expect men to continue a crime by refusing
to place the government in posses'io
OF information that will enable it to punish
that one and prevent others, Is to reason
from a diseased conception of what mans
duty to society is. To suffer great crime
to 60 unpublished is as disastrous to morals
as the crime itself, for the fact is strong
inducement to or encouragement of the dis.
position in others to go astray. BY con
cealment, therefore, one crime is added tc
another, guilt becomes doubled and the
community suffer two.fold. To discourage
informers, therefore, is to encourage Grim
inals. To abuse The informers is to say IN
effect that man owes more fidelity and al
legiance to his associates though they bt
criminals, who have forfeited all, than III
owes to humanity at large or the state.
the state has not prior right to man!
services, rather than bunch of criminals
then have social and political ethics reached
a dangerous AMI contempt
BILE stage. 1t is as absurd to decry the use
Of spies in the detection and suppression o
vice as it would be to pretermit them In war
In both cases they are required and the
men who are spies in war, take their livel
in their own hands for the good of theil
cause, or the informers who as witnesses
turn upon their former confederatss and
expose. their villainy for the good of soci
ETY., are alike entitled to commentator
Selfshness may mingle with the motives
but mingles with nearly every
human motive. 1t is the fact, the end de-
sired, that plays the prominent part in this
matter and society, or governments which
is the same thing, should not be condemned
for attempting to protect itself against It's
enemies by restoripgt', penitent among
them the franchises and rights which they
had forfeited. Criminals should be encour.
aged to come back into the pale Of
law and the companionship Of decent
men, should be educated up to the appre
citation and recognition Of the fact that 1t IL
as criminal to stick to as il is to make 8
wicked bargain. The criticism and abuse
therefore, that have'been so freely INDUCED
against CAREY and REREDELL and men Of
their stamp and in their position are un.
wise as q policy and unjust to them. The
fact that they could be induced to expose
organized crime indicates that they are not
so hardened and welded to their idols as
their fellows who hold their corduct in exc.
Grafton. From q unitarian standpoint a
man is a better friend to society who
exposes crime from whatever motive than
the man who will not from any motive open
his mouth. CAREY, REREDELL, and all
other men who step forth boldly and bring
criminals to justice, though they them.
selves were once their confederates, who
brave the wrath Of their old associates and
the contempt Of those crazy sentimentalists
who would treat the criminal with the
same delicacy Of attention and feeling that
they would exercise toward men Of honor
are entitled to the gratitude, If not tn,
plaudits, OF society, and to sneer at or abuse
them is extremely impolitic and surren.
der to the debased ethics of the outlaws Of
society. If We encouraged iniormers we
should have more informers, and if more
informers less crime and fewer unwhipped
Grim alu