St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-02-12
CRIMINAL sENTIMENTAL1TY.

CRIMINAL MENTALITY.
We have had too many instances in this
country of that mawkish sentimentality
which obscures the CHASTITY scenes of
crime in the halo Of pity with which it
enShrouds the criminal. Weak women
bring flowers to the cell of the con-
demned. Crowds fill the court room
and manifest their sympathy with the
brute on trial. Weak good nature, for
getting its duty to the living, signs petit
tons for pardon and besieges the gov
ernor for clemency.
We are getting now the refrain of the
protests made in France against the
punishment of LESsEPS, coming quickly
on his sentence of fine and imprison-
ment for the bribery Of deputies. 1t
will grow into a storm that will fill two
hemiSphereS, and may defeat justice.
The only thing seen is the old man with
his eighty years; his family of young
children. We remember only his great
and useful career up to the time he en-
barked his reputation in the Panama
scheme and wrecked it. We recall his
great talents shown in his triumph over
nature in the construction of the Suez
canal. We recount the enormous bene-
fits to the world of that triumph. And
we cry shame on the verdict that con-
signs him to felon'S cell.
But we forget. SentimentaliSts always
forget. We forget that with the great
reputation and the peoples confidence
which he had won had come duty and
responsibility. He was not LESsEPS
the individual; he became LEssEPs the
trusted counselor and adviser. He
owed it less to himself than to his peo-
pie that he put his name to no en-
terprise inviting their financial aid that
he was not certain could be carried to a
successful completion. He owed it to
them when he asked their aid in the
Panama canal that he should know
that it could be completed on the plans
laid down and within the sum estimat-
ed. But that is not all his debt; it is
the least. Failure in that might be for
gotten and forgiven, as it was by the in
veStors. We must not forget where the
money came from which poured into
the Golfers Of his company. 1t was not
alone The investment of the surplus Of
the wealthy. 1t came also from the
stockings Of France. The peasant
woman, who, from her marketlngs, was
saving up the dowry for her daughter;
the peasant farmer. who was boarding
to buy an arpent or two from neigh
Dor, that his boys portions might be
larger; all anxious to put their boards
where they would increase. These, too.
put their money into his hands, trusting
in the name he had won. 1t was sa-
cred trust.
Then when the wolves in and out of
the chamber of deputies demanded
blood money Of him as the price of
votes for further concessions, LEssEPs
owed it to himself, to his reputation and
his honor, and to these people who
had entrusted him with their savings,
to say: mo; this money is sacred; it
shall not be defiled with bribery of I'M
worthy servants. Do your worst; you
shall not rob those who have trusted
me-" But he yielded to the demands of
the wolves. The savings Of the people
went out to them in streams. The world
is appalled, by the revelations Of the
enormous brides given and received.
Their pollution touched our own shores :;
this is certain. Whose skirts it smirched
remains yet an untold tale. 1t is this
we should think of in this and kindred
cases. Over the criminal, with all his
pitiful surroundings. we should look to
the crime; and remembering that. we
can say: Ills pitiful; tits sad; but let
justice be done.