Mississippi leader., 1892-07-21
cor. W. L, nEmrNewAY.
Ha. he not Already Paid the Pun Penalty

No country can keep up civilized or
panization without laws. These are
the features which distinguish barbar-
ism from culture amongst the races of
mon. If nearly two years of impris-
onment in the penitentiary will effect
the objects of the law, why should the
individual culprit be kept in durance
vile? There are some men who should
always be confined in prison, because
| their depravity is so deep and black
| that their moral sense offers no hope
of reform. There are others whose
| pride is so high that conviction itself
without detention in prison walls,
which may circumScribc their personal
! liberty. but cannot burn deeper the
sense of humiliation they already suf-
fer. The man who has borne an ire
proachable reputation through life I'M
| til hoary hairs indicate the feebleness
of coming old age-whose whole ca
recr, except one particular charge, has
| been living epistle of honor, is to
stand alone in the judgment of his
| fellows, and not be claSsed with the
common herd of felons. If the majes-
! ty of the law has been vindicated, and
the great ends of punishment and JUS
tice have been met, as we think they
have in the deep humiliation of Col.
! w. l.. Hemingway, why should he be
compelled to wear any longer the visi-
| BILE marks of disgrace in further inn
prisonment? Must all the records of
| his private life, must all the good
deeds of his public career. must all
| the noble acts of valiant Confederate
| soldier. be longer eXtinguished as a
sacrifice to the imperious demands of
\ op1 loxu uhinh both in cTlTIf
and in truth, has been appeased. II
left to the honest decision of the peo-
l pie of the State, we conscientiously be-
lieve the almost unanimous verdict
would be written on every flying hour,
pardon pardonl! pardon!!!
The above article, caption and all,
appeared in the form of leading edi-
torial in the Grenada Sentinel of July
9th 1t was struck off on slips and
| distributed among old soldiers the day
of the reunion here. and we see that it
| has been sent to a number of the State
papers with the request that they copy
or give it favorable notice.
! The LEADER has never doubted that
jealous and indiscreet friends of eX-
Treasurer Hemingway would endeavor
TO secure his pardon before the eXpira-
ton of his term. The only surprise is
that they should reveal their purpose
so soon For bold audacity, in view of
all the facts and circumstances, this
step is only equaled by the pertinacity
with which they for Il long time pro-
claimed their faith in his innocence in
the face of the most damning proof of
guilt.
For one who betrayed a great public
trust and misapprOpriated over three
hundred thousand dollars of public
money, Col. Hemingway has already
been treated with marked considera-
ton by the press and people of Mis-
sissippi. When the announcement of
his defalcation startled the State, few
believed him guilty. and when he pub
lished his letter asking for suspen-
sion of public judgment until he could
have time to go over his books and
prove his innocence, with few excep-
tions, his request was generously and
gladly complied with, and he was given
all needed time and opportunity to
fully vindicate himself. Most of the
people hoped up to the last moment
that he would be able to establish his
innocence, and the announcement of
his conviction was received more in
spirit of humiliation and sorrow
than of exultation.
He got five years in the penitentiary
at "a soft job;" while there are white
men in there, every way just as deserv-
ing, at hard labor for five years for
stealing less than 800. His family live
in one of the best residences in Jack
son. They have never been 'cut" by
Jackson society, move in supper
tendon" as they always did, and his
son holds a position in the Auditors
office and draws salary from the
State
Of Col. Hemingway's guilt compare
lively few people longer have any
doubt. His expert book-keeper was
forced at last to admit there was moth
ing wrong about the books Here in
jackson a majority who will honestly
! express themselves believe he defraud-
ed the State, and not few believe he
has a large portion of the money
secreted for his private use.
The Sentinel article has probably
| been thrown out as 'a feeler" to test
the public pulse, and if the response
! be favorable, the effort to secure a
pardon will soon follow. Such move.
ment will prove ill-advised, either new
or hereafter, and revive subject and
heart -burnings that would better be
left at rest. None but over-sentiment-
al people and partial friends will ever
quietly submit to such a travesty on
justice, and no one appreciates this
more than Gov Stone himself.
The LEADER has no personal ill will
toward ex-Treasurer Hemingway, or
any of his kindred, and no disposition
to needlessly wound any ones feelings,
but a principle of vital import to the
public is involved in this pardon
scheme, and if the proposition is press
J oil ~ u,tIl not cb nc o ,N,,H1sa .c,,,.