The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-04-04
CURRENT PRESS COMMENT.

SOMETHING in the execution of criminal law is rad
cally wrong, and must at be corrected if
to avoid similar the country over.-Attica
Times.
THE ballot-box is the heart of our body-politic
Shall it send out the red blood of good citizenship
invigorate the system the black flow of bad citizen
ship to weaken and break it down.-Logansport Adj
vertiser
GRAND iuries and trial by juries have got to be a
regular farce. The murderer who has got the most
money and the most friends ''knocks the persim-
mons" and it don't make any difference whether the
quicker" is out of them or not.-Worthngton Times
PUBLIC sentiment demands a change in the criminal
practce-demands that the law shall punish the Grim
inal and protect the innocent 1t has been too often
administered rules the reverse of this demand The
agitation begun must be kept up until this demand is
complied with.-New Albany Ledger.
THE bulwark of all commonwealth is truth and
honor in high places and ncorruptible Judiciary
Whether theoretic system be the best devised
is matter for argument but that its workings often
wretchedy defective and corrupt is proposition that
admits of no controversy.-New York Dial.
THE necessity is that society shall heal ITSELF So
cety not heal itself by transferring the execution
of justice from its constituted but unworthy agents
passionate mob. Nor can it be hoped that society
will enter with seriousness or resolution upon the
work of healing itself until it has arrived at full and
intense realization of the fact that social death is the
only alternative Times.
NOT all the laws ever enacted nor all the standing
armies of the world will avail to nation in
fected with the leprosy. Disintegraton must and will
unless the disease be eradcated, and there is
but way to do this: purify the national character
infuse into respect and fear for God and Gods JUS
tce Return to the faith and austerty of those who
created the nation and framed its Constitution This
and this only will avert the inevitable and the
nation from speedy ruin.-Lafayette Courier.
IF we continue to try by jury of twelve men, let
the law be amended that they shall be twelve in
telligent men," According to the rules now in vogue
ignorance is at premium in the selection Of every
jury. 1t is ridiculous to demand the wisest men as
judges and attorneys and those lowest in the scale of
intelligence jurymen. In these days all intelligent
people read the daily newspapers and form opinions
but that should not exclude them from weighing testi
mony in the uryboX and it is ridiculous for the law
to declare.-Chicago Inter Ocean.
THE frenzy of the mob for few hours may destroy
the results of the accumulated civilization of centu-
ries No mob was ever sane. No mob ever remained
honest over one night With onefourth of the popu-
lation of this country gathered into cities and with
larger proportion than that of wealth gar
nered in them it behooves to toit that cities
made mobproof and that if need be line of mill
tary is drawn around the ring in which the social de-
bates that coming us are to be fought out This
country needs larger regular army.-Chieago Trib-
If it is true that republics are ngratefu it is not
true that this republic has been ungratefu in provid
ding for its defenders. The veterans who
pensioned are those, presumably who suffered no
disability by their service The vast majority of them
are earning an ample livelihood in their ordinary vo
cations. The nation honors them for the sacrifice
which they made, and nothing diminish the honor
in which they are held except their putting a cash
value upon their sacrifices and demanding pension
all around without regard to disability present
need. Those who make such demand reflect dis
credit upon their comrades and themselves 1t is
time to call halt in this pension busness.-Boston
journal.
The injustice of the law has come to be expected
The preston is not in criminal case, whether the
cused is guilty. but whether through sharp practice
his lawyer can save him. no man IS hanged because
he is guilty but because his attorney has not had
suicieney of legal cards up his capacous sleeve No
man escapes because he is innocent but because his
lawyer is adept in the art of making the legal two
and two appear to be five half dozen. Whatever
the law may say-and it has priestly egotism enough
to say anything and to dispute the right to question
its iudgment-this is wrong. 1t may be proper as
law but it is improper as Justice, and it is weekly
daily hourly insult to all morality and to the people
whose money sustains the courts Let us have law in
the interest of virtue. Let not invite the mob
Let there be change.-New York Graphic.