New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-03-25
4 PLEA For JUSTICE.

In These DAYS Sweet Charity is enthroncd, and
| vindictiveness is thought un-Chrstan. The re-
| action from stern Puritanism has gone far,
| and to closet students and men of the world
alike the Gospel Of Love appears to have Il
| deeper power than the Gospel OF Damnalon.
Yet it is necessary in human affairs to remeni-
Der that the universe Is so created that crime
does not miss its punishment. The mushy Cos
| pei Of forgiveness for every offence finds no
warrant in the physical or moral world. The
Child who violates the law of gravltation suf-
fers, and not less the man who violates the
laws of his moral nature. Always abreast OF
compassion for the sinner walks hatred or the
sin. and Infinite Sacrifice would have no mean
| ing il wrong were not infinitely dctested. When
men talk of dealing mercifully with political
offenders it is the first and the highest OF all
obligations to consider If public condemnation
| for the offence has yet been adequately mani
Tested.
The crimes against sclf-government in New
York and Ncw-Jersey were not committed by
accident or in haste. They were deliberately
planned, by men who held and now hold high
office and honor In both States it was the
plain purpose TO defy and defeat decision OF
the people, for the gain Of a political party and
certain individuals. Theft is a tame and pitt
fully inadequate word for such a crime. The
man who steals his neighbours purse wears
striped clothing and looks through prison bars,
but the UNNECESSARILY greater crime OF stealing
from millions Of free citizens their right or
self RECOMMENDATIONS that merit only Sweet
Charity? Before forgiveness can be decent
there must be vindicatlon of justice. But
Justice can only be dishonorcd and prosttuted
if there is punishment solely for weak Offenders
! When seventy election officers in Hudson Couii-
ty have been convicted. and Governor has
! hardened them what is his due measure OF
punishment? When Tammany and Gravesend
officials of low degree stand at the bar TO re-
ceiye sentence where are Maynard and Murphy
and Hill:
The crime in New-York was carefully planned,
executed by men of intellect trained in the law,
and worked out actual robbery Of the most
| sacred right of million voters for the gain
Of certain criminal conspirators and their party.
| They were able to get away with the swag,
| and they keep it. But is there no law for any
of these? Have they not been guilty, even more
! than the poor tools Of party who are following
McKanc 10 Sing Sing? If every honest man in
the State knows that they were incolnparably
more guilty it is time for Ncw-Iork 10 show
that Justice in this State is not a rcspccter Of
| persons To many generations yet TO come IT
would be a lesson Of infinite value II slow
footed Justice should reach forth her hand Mt
last and from places Of high trust and honor
should drag the guilty to receive the punish
mcnt they deserve.
Triumphant at last decent citizens of New
Jersey are tempted to be merciful TO the men
| who have done their utmost TO steal the right
of self-government from that State. But their
first duty is to remember that no such crime can
! be condoned with safety 1t was deliberate
conspiracy, in which the Governor, the Attor-
ncy-Gcneral. nine State Senators, perhaps both
| United States Senators. and certainly McDer-
mott and other minor officials, took part as the
willing tools of the law-dcfying swndcrs OF
the racctrack Each had his part assigned, and
PLAYED it to the end with daring disregard OF
the law as il has now been declared by n Demo
| cratic Supreme Court 1t is but the naked truth
that there was never any honest doubt about
the law. was any one of the consplrators
from the Governor down ignorant Of the fact
that the deliberate intention was TO steal from
the people the right of self government, in or
der TO enrich the gamblers who had bought and
/ owned the Democratic organization. II there
is not punishment for these offenders In high
places Of trust and honor, what is justice in
NcwJersey but shameless creature, whose
favors can be bought, and whose frowns are
for the poor and powcrlcss!
This, and no other, is the time for the con-
sccntous and upright people of the two States
TO make their hatred of crime felt by criminals.
The higher the offenders are in station and
honor, the more necessary it is that strict JUS
tice should brand them as they deserve.