The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1892-06-30
Intramural THOUGHTS.

wonder how many of the members of
the Republican Convention this year gave
thought to the late Roscoe Conkling. Not
having admired him politically. am the
more free to express my respect and admira.
ton for the courage with which he declined
a seat ON the supreme bench. and the splen.
did success he achieved at the bar. A GER
tain intense ardOr which marked him as
man gave assurance of still higher success
and lasting fame in his profession.
The cap sheaf of official negligence is put
on in the case of bank which wallows for
years. perhaps, certainly for months. in in
solvency. and is in all the time honestly and
thoroughly examined by the various persons
whose duty it is to know the facts.
History is repeating itself in the shape of
religious exercises to be or not to be held in
the public schools. AS far back as 1884 the
State Superintendent in New York decided
that the schools were for all, and that until
some common system of religious instruc
tiOn was agreed upon. there should be none.
This was the substance of the decision, and
we cannot help thinking it sound. Relig-
ious instruction is amply provided in other
ways; and in order that Protestant and
Catholic children may study together in
peace, it seems wiseSt to let each class be
religiously instructed elsewhere, according
to the wishes of their parents.
l was turning over some old text books
in the library and came across these words
written in neat and taking way on the
fly leaf of a book: "Charles O'Conor, was
lawyer" ''This and nothing MORE"
said l. What wonderful mani The
greatest jury pleader of the century, who
died in May 1884. Four years before his
death. having been very ill. he had the
pleasure of reading the longest obituary
notice that any cOnvalescent ever perused
with personal interest His power over
juries was such that cases were often given
up by the other side in advance of the plead.
ing. He was an Irish Catholic whose
warmest friends were American PrOtes.
tants.
Accidents in buildings are becoming far
too numerous. In such cases. as well as in
broken banks. we have proof that our
OF conscientious character-Or more of it
than we are producing. Our brains are
good enough; we want better morals.
e Il. M. has been writing on Conscience.
l am afraid that he has never read Oliver
Wendell Holmes beautiful lines on the same
subject. The following lines will explain
fully what is meant by 1.-THE living index.
which the Maker traced"
Nature has placed thee a changeful tide.
To breast its waves, but not without guide.
Yet. as the needle will forget its aim.
Jared by the fury of the electric fame,
AS the true current it will falsely feel
Warped from its axis by a freight of steel;
So will thy Conscience lose its balance truth,
fpassion's lightning tall upon its youth.
A recent writing criticises the wealthy
men of the country for negligence of max.
ing their wealth minister to philanthropy.
Probably most of our milliOnaires are too
busy too see the point, but the point is
sharp and will stick in the worlds remem-
brance of many of them. The only moral
justification for holding large property is
philanthrOpic use of it. Neglect of the
kind mentioned breeds socialists and weak
ems the moral safeguards of all private