New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-02-20
4 RIGUTEOTS NENYENCE.

After an impartial trial. in which McKane
was defended by able counsel aud all evil
dence Of questionable legality was excluded he
has received Il just and righteous sentence.
Justice Bartlett was not at liberty either 10 dis
regard the jurys recommendation to mercy, or
his own obligations 10 vindicate the authority
of the courts ana the sanctty Of public law.
His own explanation Of the sentence is lucid
and unanswerable. The penalty, while not Sc
we're enough 10 excite sympathy, Is severe
enough TO express condemnation Of the crimes
which have been committed Without the jury =
recommendation McKane would have been en-
titled to the maximum penalty of ten years.
precisely as a murderer whose crime Is shown
to have been prcmcditatcd. deliberate and with
out justification on any plea Of sclf1cfcnce or
unsound mind deserves the extreme sentence
Of death With the intcrposition Of the jury
on his behalf the sentence was relaxed. but
not sufficiently to impair its punitive force and
moral effect. Six years Of imprisonment as Il
convict confront Mcllanc. 1t is an adequate
sentence mcrciful to the prisoner and also just
to an outraged community.
Some sympathy Of an byscrica pitch there
will doubtless be. SO instructive IS American
generosity when a man is down that the cy-
on the streets from unronectlng people The
sudden transition in his fortunes alone cxcltes
compassion. For many years he has been the
most powerful parsonage in his town. absolute
as a monarch In his realm, and with Il royal
habit of cXactng loyal obedience and admira-
ton from his subjects, aud now he is n con
vlctcd fclon overwhelmed with obloquy
and rcproach. So startling contrast
M. nv
collapse Of his fortunes is so complete as TO ap-
pear homogeneous and unnatural Impulsive
and sympathetic men become suddenly in
dulgcnt and credit him with having good quail
tiles which have not perhaps been taken su
GENTLY into account in his trial and sentence.
Illusions Of this kind are dispellcd when Me-
Kancs life and character are critically exam
ined The uncrowncd King Of Gravescnd he
has debauchcd the morals and pandcrcd 10 the
worst passions OF his subjects His will has
been so absolute there that every official owed
nomination or appointment to him, and the
entire voting population was transferred from
one political party to another by his decree
He has been legislator. governor and paynastcr
for the town: and what has his dcspOtic rule
been but a reign Of lawlcssncss and crime!
Where else in this country OF ours have saloons.
galnDDne-HOuScS anu ufllS ol wee Drpn IiiONeu
license rs unrestricted and as shameless as on
Concy Island? Where else has there been n
more vicious, degraded and lawless population.
recruited from racc,rack. granddaughter and
prize ring? Mckanc was indeed popular among
his subjects: but II was because he tolerated
and encouraged their wiclcdncss. evil passions
and crimes. entertaining Them with bcstial prize
fights and tratiickng in every abomnation.
What has McKanc done That he should now
bc condemned TO convictS cell for six years!
He has sought to conceal by evasions of law
and TO defend by acts Of violence a system OF
fraudulent registration and election which
enabled him to command political influence for
the prolongation Of The carnival Of crime ard
lawbreaking in Grayescrd. That YVES his
motive when he ordered his creatures to with
hold the fraudulent registry lists from scrutiny