The Irish standard., 1889-02-09


Law and public sentiment sometimes
differ in their conclusions, though the
circumstances Of a case Is liable to
cause this difference now and then.
Public sentiment. were it able, would
mete out the same punishment to Hen
ry as it would to Tim Barrett, while
young Pete would escape with some
thing lighter.
~
"A state park at Minnehaha Falls
would ba great thing, but i. might be
just as we'll to proceed with the ap.
praisment properly before endeavoring
to secure the lands that are needed. 1t
we are to secure these lands let it not
be- at the expense Of poor people about
tbs Falls who paid more for the proper.
ty twelve or fifteen years ago than they
are now being offered.
IT.
Shall twelve men return verdict in
che future III Minnesota or shall three
fourths OF this number be sufficient
as now being discussed before the leg
islature. The rights Of all il seems to
us, can and wilt be better subserved
by an unanimous verdict, whether the
number be Ave, seven, nine or twelve.
This three-fourths amendment is mat.
ter that will bear much consideration
before passing upon it.
~
Tie Pioneer Press very truthfully
says: If we are to have constitutional
prohibition, let it he by the only author
lied method; the election OF a legisla-
ture In which a rnojority Of the mem
bers shall he personally in favor OF the
change. No man not himself a prohi-
bitionist can vote for submission with
out a greater departure from duty than
it would be to vote tor the passage Of a
law which be believed to be wrong in
principle and destructive in its conse.
quences.
~ #.
The Algonquin club should change
it's name Or do something that viii!
tend to strengthen it in public as we'll
as political confidence. There is mag
niticent field IN Minneapolis for an out
aud out Democratic cub of vast pro-
Notwithstanding that will De dem-
ocrat,c in the broadcast se1lss Of the
terna-that will reach out and welcome
all within the ranks OF the old Jeffer-
sonian party to its ranks--a club
where the rank aud file wills have some.
thing to say about it's government and
where cffice-seekers will not predomi-
nate.
~
There can be 40 doubt but what
South Minneapolis, and the city IN a
general way, would he benefited by
bridging the Minnesota river at the foot
of Cedar avenue. Many of the farmers
Of Hennepin county are barred froEn
coming to MINNEAPOLIS with their pro-
dues through this lack Of a bridge across
the Minnesota, together with hundreds
of others from the neighboring counties
Of Dakota and Scott, VINO would be Only
too anxious to come here. While the
expense woald be quite large We fee!
su 9 that the adjoining counties men
toned would lena their financial as
sistance to this project.
*
The legislature is endeavoring, from
all appearances, to produce, or rather to
so amend the present laws in regard to
divorces in Minnesota, that it may be
made easier. It could be made more
stringent in this state with but little
effort; but with the rapldity and grace
with which divorces have been granted
during the past few years 1t looks as
though our legislators would be caused
an immense amount of worry in their
efforts to produce something that will
sunder the bonds more rapid or with
less friction than the laws which now
exist. Divorce, breeder Of immoral
ity at best, why should the state be dis
graced by encouraging 1t further?
~
In recent lecture by Rev. II. n.
Simmons, that gentleman expounded
some very excellent ideas rega riding the
treatment of criminals, their punish
ment, etc. If it were possible, and we
believe it could be made so through
legislation, to do away with the pardon
ing power which now exlsts-if it could
be made certain that a life sentence was
not a meaningless term, but to the con-
trary something Almost sacred and not
to be tempered with-its growth in
popular favor would be widespread and
overwhelming. But as long as the par
doning power exists. practiced as 1t now
is, life imprisonment cannot expect and
does not deserve to receive encourage
ment.