Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-05-30
A DISTINCTION IN DEGREE.

The New York Graphic had cut OF
Ferdinand Wards dungeon cell, the other
day; and II it had not been for the super
scription, This is CELL" one might
readily have supposed that the engraving
itself was sell, and that the criminal specu-
lator was meditating blind pools in the lux.
urious apartments Of his private residence.
The fact that Ferdinand Ward, when first
arrested, was incarcerated in a hotel, with a
private bar and all the comforts befitting his
elegant leisure, suggests a distinction, OF
some sort, between this man and
the score or so OF others who were arrested
| on the same day, for comparatively petty
| offences, and thrust into the cherries cells
OF the public limbo. What was the distinc-
| tion2 We opine it wa, a distinction in de-
gree. Ferdinand Ward was a very, very
large criminal. He had thrust his hands
deeper into the pockets Of his con1ding
associates and the unsuspecting puhlc
| than any one Of his contemporaries. Conse-
quently, the poor blind public seemed to
think it in keeping with its traditions to pay
some worshpful respect to such sublime
rascality. Instead of going to the common
Jail with Harry and Pat, arrested for steal
ing pair of boots AID disturbing the public
peace, the criminal par excellence is taken to
fine hotel, and suite of elegant apart
ments is secured for his gracious occu-
pancy.
And this is nothing new. 1t is mat
ter of tradition, and of precedent.
When has great embezzlcr and
defrauder of the public been treated
as if he were really a criminal, When
has he been hustled off to Jail with the
man who took five dollars from one citizen
instead of five millions from five hundred
citizens? 1t would have been breaking
over Of all custom and precedent to have
sent this Wall street robber to the Tombs
And farther, how about the punishment of
q big criminal? 1t would be mere matter
Of form, not worth second thought, this
outward respect paid to sublime rascals, if
IN the end they received .heir just reward,
and the public honor stood avenged. But,
alas this toadyism is not mere matter of
form. 1t stands for something deeper. 1t
stands for something which will allow tinse
trials and conspiracy by jury, spread-eagle
eloquence, false testimony bribery prost.-
tuition OF law, and the escape Of glded Grim
inals by sheer force Of audscity and fraud.
II it were not for the humorous respect Of the
public for great criminals, these giants
among rascals could not snap their bonds as
they do. There is little ripple of astonish-
| ment and apprehension when 4 great public
defrauder comes stepping gracefully out
through the breach in the walls of justice,
made for him in the sight of all men but
that is all 1t amounts to. The people bow to
their fetch, and the plunderer goes back to
his old ways. He is not like common Grim.
inals. There is something noble about his
sublime rascality. He towers head and
shoulders over mediocre innocent men. lie
must be respected; he must have the right of
way. The distinction between him and
minor criminals must be recognized.
This is the way the public argues and
acts and the results he who runs may read.
Justice will not be done Ferdinand Ward,
Ii he Is punished at all it will be very mild
ly, and the probability is that he will not be
punished. II he had been poor and had
picked one pocket he would have gone to
States Prison for Ten years. Being rich,
and having picked thousand pockets, he
will go scot free. Verify. VIC believe. A lit
tie socialism will not hurt this country.