The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1891-02-13

fl1red innocence, is carrying the gol-
den rule TO. an extreme which its au-
thor never intended, and which, if
not checked, would result disastrous
| ly TO the very foundations of society.
Real pity for any so unfortunate, and
legitimate charity toward him is not
of this senseless nature He who can
speak kindly words to any one under
such cloud, and give advice born of
pity, and still say amen" to a ration
al execution of our penal laws, has
reached that just mean which makes
men. and women, too, judicious con-
SENATORS of society's best interests.
Now to revert TO Mr.. Powlison's
case, let us look at it from this con-
sentative stand, without any endeavor
to create additional prejudice against
him. 1t serves TO demonstrate how
easily people will fall into this super
fetal and hasty policy. Getting back
TO our former point of view, viz. what
are the demands and requirements of
society, we can see far grayer consid-
erations in this case than the loss of
Mr.. McConnell's money and goods, or
| the chagrin and sorrow brought upon
the young wife. In gaining the eX-
| IRENE confidence of his employer, and
in establishing himself in the commu-
nifty at large. Mr.. Powlison converted
TO his use all the livery of the church
of Christ and its surroundings, and all
the machinery of society in general.
In thus attaining the confidence and
esteem of his friends and immediate
associates while conducting his sys-
tenn of pilfer, he was practicing the
most hideous hypocrisy, the most I'M
furnished mockery, and palming off
on these young people and children
the vilest cant. No service in or ses-
sion of the church, in any of its
branches, lacked his presence or miss
ed his voice, both in invocation and
teaching religious precept. All
branches of the work were alike his
field of activity. 1t is this extreme
and unusual application TO religious
work, contemporaneously with his
well devised system of robbery, that
brands the crime with such unmiti-
eating Nervousness. Money lost is
noting to society. nor goods stolen,
for if that were the only considera
UiOn. and restitution was the purpose
Of the law, the county could restore
the value of the property for much
with than it sometimes costs to prose-
cute the criminal. The aim of penal
statutes reaches further. 1t is the
degree of the crime taken together
rests the Nervousness Of the means
and methods employed which cOnsti-
tutes the motive for prosecution. The
influence of such a course. on the part
of an individual member of society is
not denounced because of the effect
on those who have well established
moral and religious convictions; but
it is the effect on those younger, that
makes such hypocrisy, when so indus
triously employed, as in PowlinsOn's
case. to be detested, punished, and
stamped out. To thus prey upon the
confidence Of older people, is bad
enough, to assume to become a model
and teacher for younger people is
worse; but to stalk as moral and re-
ligious sponsor among band of inno-
cent, helpless mission children, col
lected together by the charitable soci-
cites Of the city with the hope of Civ
ing them some wholesome moral in
Struction, brings such imposition
down to the level of all that is base
and hellish in human nature. This
is the real foundation for whatever
denunciation Powlinson's case de-
serves.
1t is not the intent of this artible TO
prosecute Mr.. Powlinson's case in the
press. He should be treated kindly,
and directed as far as possible to ref
ormation, but society. mot any indi-
vidual, not the public officers, nor any
court of law contending for the ends
of public justice, demands that such
offences, with their attending hypoc-
risy, be branded with their proper
hidiousness, and the punishment be
made to ''fit the crime" regardless of
maudlin sympathy, or spurious criti-
cism. Such a course in the end will
be better for the accused than sense
less petting. w.
CumminS a Macbeth.