Telegram-herald., 1889-12-02
THE JURY SYSTEM
A Sermon Preached by Rev. J. T.
Knapp, OF Grace Church
Is TRIAL BY JURY A FAILURE ?
Ths Reverend sDeaksr Reviews the ats
tory 81 th- Jury sysfsaas snd Ar
EiFes al "a CnfaTorabIe Coa-
etaslon-ssrm ia ALI

Rev J T Knapp, Of Grace Church,
preached the following very timely ser
mon Thanksgiving Day upon "Our
Courts and National Dangers"
The President ol these United states
issued hls proclamation appointing THIS
day a. a cay Ol National lhauksg sgIvng
and prayer lt is meet, right, and our
boulden duty o. reLder thanks, and Al
the same time watch glEh a careful eye
our bless ngs, ever remembering that,
Eternal ~. lance IS LLe price OK Aber-
tY' Eloquent voices come down from
Heaven o. sarn Us. IOlntng % pre-
Vallng evils and calling % guard that
which mas been comm tied Tor preser-
VauOn and perpetuaLOn The enemy
Is at our door, and forcing an entrance
into our most sacred places. The tenn
pies Of religion and the seats Of learn
iug are tainted with tae monsters foul
breath, and the promise and strength
Of our young men are bOWlng down
under the weight OF las relentless and
w.therlng arm. Beneath bis IRON heel
the lOycllest flowers OF earth are
crushed and the beautiful buildings OF
virtue forever blasted. IL Is highly
proper that on this day We should con-
slider the things which concern the wei
fare Ot the country and the dangers
Which threaten our National mstltu-
Z. Ons
What Is the function God has given
us, and what IS the responsibility which
tie has laid upon us2 An empire, the
home OF every race, every creed. every
tongue, % whose citizens He has COM
mtted the only aud grandest system of
In. rr. rfr fs4H
those principles which, ike the marble
column, must remain unbending be-
meath the far fahr.c OF free institutions
and republican governments, and II we
tall, the funeral pail VIII mantle the
world, and the requiem OF ages Will
rend the yault Of heaven. A We look
out upon our beloved Land today We
behold, lu many sections, a feast of
cr.mo and a famine OF penalty
Murders are committed IN cold blood
and the murdercrs are permitted 70 go
unpunished. Justice is not meted out
20 these assIsslus, and the community
Is left often without protection. Why
Is this, Is modern society deterlOrat-
lng2 or l. there something defective IN
the courts by which We attempt TO Sc
cure justice and guard the lives of lndI-
yiduais and protect our homes?
There = law enough 10 prevent all
crime, but there i q growing feeling OF
distrust and insecurity rs 70 the admin
IstratOn OF the law, ana mankind are
settling down INTO the conviction that
the court house Is the last place on earth
wnere justice or their rights can be OBJ
tanned. Especially Is tbs true IN regard
70 the administration OF criminal law;
the difficulties IN the way OF cOnvictlng
criminals are becoming an uncomfortable
evil, and a disgrace and a reprOach
upon the intelligence and the integrity
OF the American people. Our present
system OF trial by jury was invented
and framed under monarchy as a de-
fence against the power and tyranny of
the crown. Hence the bOasted trial of
the accused by a jury of ms peers. an
apostolic twelve, chosen by himself, ex-
cludmg every Oncm who ne thought
likely 90 condemn hlm. Hence the
custom OF his counsel % CrOss-examine
puzzle. bewiider and brOw-beat and. Il
possible, prevent the witness from tell
ing the truth, the whole truth, and
nothing but the truth
Tie criminal lawyer knows when ne
has undertaken q desperate cause that
everything with hm depends upon the
issue. All the power 81 the man, all
tn arts and subterlug OF the prOfes-
SOL are brought INTO rcqusit.On.
lle resolves with Juno u the poem:
III Javc and Heaven my ust desires deny.
lie snail tle power % Heaven aud J0ve
supply.
'T.ectere 81 ncquco Super0s, Achcr-
ou1 moeeo0.
Iu common dcfcn-g set up Is, that
prl~v MAN is entitled fu fu~ftrc ana u M