Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-05-07
TIE BALLOT BOX.

cognlzant OF the black outrage thai
was perpetrated upon the ballot box ir
Chicago, and upon the people of the
State, and indeed of the United States
by two graceless scoundrels at the last
election. These villains printed bog
US ticket. after the polls were closed
and substituted them for the ballots
that the people had thrown, making il
appear that a defeated candidate fsl
State Senator had been elected. PEG
pie, without regard to party affiliations
felt indignant and fifteen thousand
dollars were subscribed to detect and
convict the guilty parties. Besides
this money large sum Of the public
money was expended in the trial. The
righteous result of the trial was the
conviction of Mackin and Gallagher,
and heavy sentence by the court
But, of course, these two disreputable
vermine on society were only tools IN
the hands of more prominent men
They had nothing to gain from thus
making a bid for the penitentiary.
Their Infamous work was wholly in the
interest Of prominent politicians who
have thus far succeeded in covering
their tracks, Naturally these greater
rascsls had, and have, deep interest
in the convicted felons, and have ex.
erted every possible influence to save
their pets from the penitentiary
There are two reasons for this: The
first is that the fine workers know toe
much to make it profitable for their
influential friends to forget them. The
second is that their services are
wanted, for when there is auda.
cious scoundrels enough to empty the
ballot boxes, and stuff them with
counterfeit tickets, the politician who
has such a man for friend may ex-
ultantly exclaim, eff Mackin be with
me who can be against me 20
The result Of the large expenditure
of money and the large effort that was
made in convicting these people, is
finally their release on writ of error
by Judge Gresham Of the Circuit
Court of the United States This il
pitiable outcome of an attempt to
purity of the ballot. Of course it was
made possible through the influence OF
the distinguished principle criminal
who have as yet been undiscovered. AT
almost the last momont Emory A.
Storrs, the silver-tougued mocker Of
truth and justice and eloquent personif.
cation of an utter lack Of principle, was
employed to argue the technicalities
of the law for the convicts. Fortunate.
ly for him he got through with hi,
work before the opening of the local
campaign, and is now at liberty te
give his chronic harangue in favor oil
pure ballot and an angelic city gov.
eminent. In a very wide observation
Of men it would be difficult to find &
soul so utterly sterile of principle az
that of Storrs. If the man is moi
wholly dead to every moral impulse anc
totally incapable of csnceiving tn,
slightest difference between right ane
wrong, his actions belle him. 1t il
such men who bring disgrace upon the
legal profession, and are in unmitigatee
curse to community. 1t will not Dc
to say that it is legitimite for lawyel
to urge every point in behalf of one
accused of crime before the law. : A
mans first duty is to society, be hs
lawyer or layman. No honest mar
will claim justice was not done in th.
conviction of Mackin and Gallagher
They stuffed the ballot box. They
committed a crime against the very
existance of this form of government
and crime which should be punished
by breaking their necks. They no
only committed that heinous offense
but they hired the offscourings of thu
city to commit perjury in their behalf
that was so bold and black that it fel
to pieces of its own weight. Ano
after all that, a lawyer can be founc
to secure the release Of such enemies
to society upon the technicalities o.
law, and thus win honor as keer
practitioner instead of earning stri
ped suit for himself. We suppose, O
course, that Judge Gresham decision
is in accordance with the law, but it il
not in accordance with justice, and W.
first complain of citizen, who, in thu
role of lawyer, sets the interests 0
society at naught for fee, and mex
complain of the stupidity of the law
The decent portion of the communit,
has absolutely no protection. We ar
bound hand and foot by the disreput
able elements. The expensive court
appear to be run in the interests O
cri minals, and actually it does not pa,
to attempt to punish crime. Gu
criminal courts might as we'll be abolish
ed. The money paid for their supper
and for the detection of crime is thrown
away as completely as if it were sunl
in the ocean. Nobody is punished