The Arizona sentinel., 1895-08-24
Should An Ex-COnVict Have the
 Chance to Earn a Living?


 without money. He must work.
 beg, steal or starve, no other al-
 ternative. His crime may have
 many extenuating circumstances
 these are never considered, the
 brand of Cain Is on him. No
 matter how sincere his repentance,
 or desire for reformation, the
 avenues are closed. You will not sand him to feed your cattle or
 swin, least he fill his belly with the husks they leave.
 What shall he do? Co where
 he is unknown, perhaps get work,
 and do well, until some unconvict-
 ed criminal comes along, and noti- 1 fies his employer of his past his
 tory, and then Othello like his oc- cupation is gone, and like the wan dering Jew he moves on. He may not be all bad, he may have some good qualities, he may be an ex- pert in some trade or business, yet a Nemesis follows and dogs his steps to the grave, as long as the Pharasees cry down, with the har- lot, caught in adultery or the mob shout cruelty him.
 You are not asked to give your daughters in marriage to these men, or to make ex-convicts Bank Presidents or Sunday School Sup erintendents, just give them a chance to cut your wood, feed your pigs or dig your garden to earn their bread, give them a kind word some times, they may prove faith ful and honest. The poor and criminal did not hurt the morals, of the Son of Man, or affect his standing in Hebrew society. He even told some of those good peo- pie: "He that is without fault cast the first stone." There was not very many stones thrown and no glass broken, or character either. We have, with the biblical revision, re-re-vision and tamp- ering improved on these old fogy ideas of Jehovah.
 How wise and presumptuous we have grown. There are a few good Samaratirs, I know, yet they are somewhat like Hamlet's honest man.
 I am "Holier than thou" is as serted and emphasized, even by the "bum" who stands on the street corner and drinks when invited even by an ex-convict. Mir. Con- vict, look out You are safe as long as your $5 lasts, after that is gone, get, or look out for the jug for vagrancy, no matter if you are trying to get work, the rounders even have no use for you when your money is gone, you don't be- long to the gang, you can't pay toll or "set em up," so git.
 Yes, there is a big difference be- tween an ex-convict and some pseudo respectable citizens, or we'll (airily) dressed gentleman. The convict broke the law, got caught | and paid the penalty on the Hill. Some other gentlemen may have broken the law; they have not been caught, and hence have not paid the penalty; (some of them don't pay any thing if they can get out of it) which of the two is the more honorable, who has the deal or the ante?
 There are men on the Hill for taking or obtaining less than the value of $1O. I know of three cases where men not on the Hill, owe convicts sums less than $1O and more than $5 and these convicts worked hard for the money and have waited a long time, and these respectable gentlemen, will not pay a just debt to man when his hands are tied, which of the two has the more honor, the respect able gentleman or the convict? be honest. When we begin to point the finger of scorn at any one, let us first take the criminal code of Arizona, read the list of crimes, then if you or I are not guilty of any, directly or indirect l ly, positively or negatively as prin- cipal or accessory; then get to work at once, and point all your fingers of scorn at the convict and a good many others, but let your