People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1895-04-11
Big and Little Thieves.

Big and Little Thieves.
The conviction of ex-Treasurer
Woodruff, of Arkansas, and his SEN
tence for one year to the penitentiary
for stealing over 100000. is another
brilliant example of the method Of dol
ing out justice in this country. 1t is
useless tn attempt to disguise the fact
that if this had been some poor labor
ing man, whose family was really in
need Of something to eat, who had
stolen hog, or anything to else to the
value OF SIS or $50, he would have been
sentenced to not less than two years.
The case of Woodruff is not an isolated
case. Nolan, Of Missouri, who stole
over $4,000 Of the states money, re-
ceiyed but two years sentence. Hem
mingway, of Mississippi, stole $4,000
and got i've years In the pen; II it had
been some poor, friendless devil, he
would have got the full limit Of the law.
Now why should Woodruff, Nolan
and Hemingway be entitled to great
er leniency than poor man who is
struggling with poverty and hunger?
The court records are full Of cases
where men have been convicted and
sentenced to from five to twenty years
Imprisonment for stealing less than
800 In value. Such methods Of dis
elimination in the administration of
justice are breeding more anarchy in
this country than all the Herr Mosts
could do If they tried. 1t is travesty of
justice to send poor man up for five
years for stealing $50 and a wealthy
or influential 81 man up one year for
stealing 100000. The official who
steals the public funds commits a
double crime. He is guilty of breach
of trust and theft. In no instance can
he plead the palliating circumstances
that exist in the case of the man who
is poor, and whose opportunities for
making a living are limited, as is the
case with thousands at present. II is
this discrimination in favor Of the rich
and influential that is undermining
our free institutions. Government is
only useful SO long as 1t is admins
tered for the greatest good for the
greatest number" The stability of the
government rests upon the respect
which the people have for the law and
the proper administration Of justice.
When the courts become engines of
oppression for the poor, and citadels
of refuge for the rich and powerful,
as was the case in the bred Scott de-
cision, before the war, and in recent
railroad strikes since, the people lose
respect for the law and for government.
1t is now generally conceded that John
Brown was right, although he was a
law breaker, and as such was pun
ished. John Brown and his followers
had no respect for the bred Scott de-
cision. The majority Of the people
north Of Mason and Dixon's line were
of the same mind. All the court de-
cisions in the world can not make a
wrong right. Chattel slavery was
wrong, and, although it was recognized
by the constitution, sustained by the
courts, and protected by the laws, the
people rose up and shot 1t to death.
So it will be with debt slavery. No
chains can bind an intelligent people
to slavery, whether they be Of iron or
gold. Such cases as are cited above
are not the greatest that are filling up
the cup Of iniquity, that eventually
must be overturned either with the
ballot or the bullet. Just in proportion
as, the people lose their respect for the
law and its administrators, they are
approaching the vortex Of revolution.
When government fails in its func-
tons it is no good on earth, and If the
spirit Of the Declaration Of American
Independence still lives in the hearts
Of the people, they will "alter or abol-
ish it, and institute new government,
laying its foundations on such princi-
Piles, and organizing its powers IL. such
forms as to them shall seem most like
iy to effect their safety and happiness"