The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1885-11-21
THE DUTY OF THE PUBLIC.

studied ana concerted attempt Is being
made on the part of those implicated in
the fraudulent circular" matter recently
brought before the grand jury and by those
who are their active sympathisers therein
tOcreate sentiment inimical to the prose
cution of the criminal suits resulting there
from. The especial champion of those
who have Leen indicted is the Ottawa
J@rHal, which has again seen fit 70 prosti-
tute its columns to the scandalous style of
journalism that characterized it some
months since when two of those now rest
ing under the charge of conspiracy CONTROL
ed its editorial management and virtually
dictated the policy of the paper.
The FREE TRADER would not now dig.
Nifty the JoHrHal by paying the slightest
heed to anything contained in it were it
not that in this instance it evidently speaks
by authority and directly in the interest of
those charged with the commission of this
crime. We desire it to be distinctly I'm.
derstood that we believe it due to the pub
lie on the part of the States Attorney that
these cases be pushed to their legitimate
end, and that the soundest reasons of pub.
lie policy demand and will tolerate nothing
short of this on his part
The crime is not one simply committed
against the rights, honor and character of
single individual, affecting him alone in Its
results, hut 1t is crime against the public
at large, and as such deserves the severest
punishment the law can lnilict on the gull.
ty offenders.
The public good further demands that in
this instance, here and now, the crime be
punished-that at the very outset such ne
farious political warfare be abolished, and
such means and those who practice them
in political contest be made odious to all
right minded and right thinking citizens
II this crime at this time goes uninvesti.
gated and unpublished, there will and can
be hereafter no possible guarantee for safe
ty for one who is before the public asking
the suffrages Of our citizens If some evil
disposed persons on the very eve of the
election see fit to secretly send out such cir.
culars as were sent out few days prior to
Nov. 3D. by the enemies of Judge Gilbert.
The investigation of this matter and the
prosecution of these suits is not question
of individual wrong or of party policy. 1t
Is of vastly higher importance and wider
scope 1t is something that presses close
upon all who are Interested in the cause of
purity in public politics.
Our citizens must be protected against
such outrages, and there ought to be pub
lie sentiment sufficiently strong in this dis
trict to insure them that they shall be.
Neither ridicule of the proceedings of
the grand jury nor vicious attempts to slur
the motives of Judge Gilbert on the part
of those indicted; neither the hope of par,
ty success nor the fear OF party failure In
future elections should cut any figure with
our citizens in this matter. There must be
no drawback or hesitancy because some
persons of high degree may be scorched or
hurt; be 1t who it may, the rights of the
people must be vindicated, and that, too, in
no uncertain way.
A great wrong has been committed
against the dignity and good of our people.
Some persons are guilty of having been
the authors and perpetrators of it, and all
good citizens, irrespective of party affilia.
lions, should unite in bringing to judgment
the guilty parties.
If the men indicted 10y the grand jury
are guilty of the crime "wherewith they
are charged" let them be punished, and let
all who aided and abetted, or even coun.
tenanced them In their criminal work, be
ostracized for all time TO come from all
party councils, no matter to which party
they claim allegiance.
We do not desire to PREJUDICE those who
are charged with the commission of this