The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1889-10-31
CLOSE THE UNIVERSITY.

The examination of students in Judge
Keyes' court relative to the case of haz-
ing IN the Wisconsin University, shows a
deplOrable state of morals in that institu-
ton. 1t is time to seriously consider
whether the state can tolerate an institu-
ton whose ethics justifies perjury on the
witness stand. There is not district
school in this state whose pupils will lie
as openly, defantly and shamelessly as
| the "gentlemanly" students of the uni
versity will swear. When one of them
deliberately swears to a falsehood the
student spectators applaud, and the
student witness is thereby encouraged to
add insolence to his perjury. There is
no manifestation of a sense of shame on
the part of those who lie consciously
while under oath. There is no regard for
honor, no respect for law, no apprecia-
ton of manly conduct. The student who
lies with most brazen defiance and facil-
ity is the greatest hero. The students
have formulated code of ethics which
excludes all ideas of modern morality.
Can any parent feel safe in exposing his
child to such influences?
4 number of Chicago Irishmen, many
Of them ignorant all of them inspired by
purpose having in it nothing criminal
and ssmuch that palliates Incorporate
action, organize a society and place its
behests above the law. Some become so
enthusiastic that they mistake murder
for patriotism. 1t is the misguided pa
triotism of men whose purpose is good.
Cronin is murdered on false testimony by
men who justify their act by devotion to
a cause which is not blamaole. If Cronin
was guilty of treason against an organ
lied government his life would be Justly
forfeited. A few misguided Irishmen are
led to believe he was traitor to the
cause which took place of a government
to them and they acted as the agents of
a law which they deemed paramount to
the law of the land in which they lived
lie SIOGili vi uculllClttllOu anu lDc CIloI 10
to bring the guilty ones to justice are
fully justified by the enormity of the
offense.
While the murder of Cronin is per Sc a
more heinous offense than the hazing of
Riley, the Clan-na-gael tactics of the
Wisconsin University are fraught with
more danger TO the country than the
most numerous proceedings of any
society. The condition OF affairs laid
bare in Judge Reyes court has had a
more demoralizing effect upon the coun-
try than the murder of Cronin and all
the attendant circumstances.
The very standing of the meu charged
with the murder of Cronin robs it of the
glamour which invests the acts of the
college students. There is not much
danger that the Irishman with monstrous
ideas of the duties of patriotism will be
taken as an exemplar by the youth Of
America. But the college student who
takes an oath to tell the truth and def
antly disregards it gives an aristocratic
flavor to lie The murder of Cronin-
foul as the deed is, severely as it should
be punished not IL it the depravity
or the cowardice of the ordinary hazing
proceeding. The men who struck down
Cronin took no brutal delight In the pain
they inflicted aud placed the cause for
which they acted above the life they
sacrificed. They risked their own lives
and their crime is lessened in Its enor-
nifty by the danger they willingly in
Cured. The cowardly hazer offered an
indignity because he derived pleasure
from the pain he inflicted. His action
had its origin in brutal instincts and
he seeks to protect himself through vul-
gar living But being student his acts
are treated indulgently as exubeFaRt feel
ing, even his lack OF truthtulness is con-
doned and he is taken as model by
some other young numskull who thinks
that 6 oollegian may be ruffian and a
liar and not lose caste.