New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-05-14
Tie G. NcLNNATI GIOT.

The special Grand Jury, appointed to con-
slider the crimes connected with the late not I'D
Cincinnati has made its report and FOUND
large number of indictments. The report
speaks of the beliefs upon which the riot was
based, that the administration of Justice in the
courts was prevented, jurors we've bribed, and
cases fixed to SUIT influential politicians ana
lawyers There is one abuse referred to, now
ever. which no amount of rioting appears capa-
bic of removing-the abuse, namely, that So
called good citizens avoid jury duty striking
illustration of this habit occurred the other day
in Chicago A jury was wanted for murder
trial. and the sheriff drew his panel from rcpu
table business men and merchants, lawyers
and professional men, But they would not
serve. When examined they all gave excuses
or failing excuses, such answers as they khe"
would insure their being challenged. Not
man of them-and over hundred were drawn
showed the least sense of public duty, though
undoubtedly these men would be the first TO
dcnounce such laxity in the administration OF
Justice as led to the riot at Cincinnati. When
reputable and intelligent men are thus habitu-
ally guilty of incivism, when they are too
selfish to perceive that even their right to carry
performance of their public duties, how can 1t
be expected that the vicious elements, seeing
the way left open, will fail to utilize their OPP
pOrtunities, or how can the public expect just
yerdicts in capital cases when the work of the
Jury is abandoned to such as sympathize with
the criminals
If the business men of Cincinnati had done
their duty at the polls and in the jury
there would have been no excuse for riot, ana
the same may be said of every city III the
Union. The men who possess the ability anu
intelligence to make and keep local government
sound and effective, neglect their duty III the
first instance. Perhaps one reason of this Is
that in our educational system we have failed
sufficiently to impress upon the rising genera
ton the Importance of political duties Our
young men, as a rule, enter the world absorbed
with selfish ambitions, and they grudge every
moment given to community interests. mus IL
is that men of business ere not ashamed 10
evade jury duty by the most bold and trans
parent subterfuges, and that those who have
the strongest reasons for desiring good govern
ment offer examples of gross neglect and IN
difference when they are called upon to meet
the responsibilities of citizenship.
The people of Cincinnati, of course, had no
justification for rioting. They might have had
a special Grand Jury just as well without riot
as after one. All that was needed at any time
was the requisite public interest in public
affairs. Now, with the stimulus of the riot be-
hind it, the Grand Jury is naturally disposed
to make thorough work of it, and there will no
doubt be some sweeping reforms. But unless
the people, and especially the business men, re-
solve to perform the duties of citizenship faith
fully and willingly hereafter they can have no
guarantee against the reproduction of the same
conditions against which the recent outbreak
was blind protest. The duty of the citizen to
the commonwealth needs to be learned much
more generally and thoroughly before the
danger of similar lapses into anarchy will be
really and permanently escaped or outgrown.