, 1884-04-03
The Democratic Leader.
THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 1854.
A MUCH NEEDED REFORM.

Since the occurrence of the lamentable
Cincinnati riot, a strong sentiment is un-
mistakably manifesting itself throughout
the length and breadth of our land in
favor of extended reform in securing jury
service Whilst the administration of
criminal Justice in the several common
wealths of our union has been the cause
of much adverse criticism on the part of
intelligent, law-abiding citizens, the very
foundation of this pregnant evil lies with
the people themselves-the law-making
and the law-abiding people. The present
age is essentially a unitarian age-an age
of selfshness wherein ~money-getting and
housekeeping seem to be paramount to
all else, and this greatly to the detriment
of society. The citizen, individually and
collectively, understands his position in
society, as well as his moral and legal re-
sponsibility to it in the determination of
justice as between man and man in mat
ters affecting them eriminally and civilly.
Many men, however, are so blinded with
self that they cannot bring themselves to
a full realization of their duty to society
in preserving and enforcing the law.
Some are so sordid as to care for nothing
but their own aggrandizement. In being
called for jury duty they seek to evade its
performance as something onerous, unin-
teresting and unnecessary. 1t is often to
be observed that when juries are selected
and their members questioned they present
seemingly valid excuses for not serving.
Many sel6shly urge their private interests
and the pressing importance of their per-
sonal business as a substantial excuse for
Sinking the duty which they owe to their
fellowmen as members of society at large.
In some communities, reputable citizens
resort to subterfuges which are not, to say
the least, honorable, in order to evade ser
vice on a jury. The consequence is that
the better men frequently escape their du-
ties in that regard, and the juryleftis often
composed of very few that can be called
intelligent or honest, whilst the balance
that are chosen from the public are too
often the hangers on around the courts
who may be influenced by trickster and
the jury packer. If the respectable ele-
ment of a community were compelled to
sit upon juries and not allowed to escape
their responsibilities, the art of the jury
packer would be lost, as well as that OF
the corrupt criminal lawyer. There
would be a strong administration of jus.
tice and the effect of 4 good jury being
present would inspire the court and the
prosecuting attorney with confidence that
their efforts would not be futile, but in
most instances, especially in old commu.
mites, it is uphill work for a prosecuting
attorney, who, after preparing a case
carefully and after making a strong effort
to secure the conviction which the culprit
deserves, finds that the jury which is sit.
ting upon the case is. in u moral sense,
very little different from the prisoner at
the bar. Good juries frown upon the
workings of the corrupt criminal lawyer
and the jury packer. Their occupation
should be gone. They would find that
their efforts are unavailing, and the con.
sequence would be a surer and swiRel
melting out of justice to criminals. In
this section we are less open to imputa.
tons than are the older settled countrie.
further to the east; yet, every portion Of
the country may receive a valuable lesson
taught by the recent deplorable events in
the city of Cincinnati.