Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-11-29

| with each other as to the rottenness Of
the law. The following quotation from
! one OF those wise men is fair sam
/ pie or their views in general. THAT
4 our criminal procedure Is q farce, no
| candid person Will deny, Ostensihly
for the protection OF society. II Is really
for the protection OF criminals" How
do they know that7 In the same way
that two-by-four Panhandle prcach-
er knows that Charles Darwin was
mistaken. and that evolution is an ex-
plodod theory. / am not defending
evolution. / do not know anything
about the subject. am criticisins
men who attack the vast and compli-
Gated science OF law, while they are
as ignorant of Its principles as the
writer and the aforesaid preacher are
ignorant OF evolution. II is time THIS
thing should stop. BY discussing po-
llticai questions OF which the majority
OF men are absolutely ignorant, we
have reached that point where upon
every street corner we can hear the
brave. independent leaders Of this ma
ton called the vileat names and
charged with countless crimes OF which
they are innocent. These ISLANDERS re-
suit from the fact that there are some
men who will not PROSTATE their learn
Ing and integrity In the dust at the
command of an ignorant, clamoring
multitude. Instead OF abusing, we
should honor such men. Without them
this republic would 20 down and civ
iiizntion In THE world would soon be
forgotten. There are some men who
stand by what they believe to be right,
like the mistaken rock of Gibraltar.
They are never popular. They do not
suit the public. because they do not
pander TO the public. Pontlus Plate.
and all tho bloody brood who have fol-
lowed in his wake. asking "the poo
plc" what course to pursue, have been
honored and exalted above the heroes
who have in all the ages kept alive
the spark OF manhood and lndepend-
once. II the preachers and editors
above mentioned succeed In getting
the attention OF certain politicians Of
the P0ntlus plate kind, the torch
OF reason will be eXtinguished, the Wis
dom OF the past ignored and instead OF
our eyetcm OF criminal law, which now
leads the world, We viii have some
silly statutes like the common sense
Indictment act" which disgracod the
hope that our friend. the preach
or, and those good editors
win hunt up the history OF the Com
mon Sense Indictment Act" ascertain
the fact that II was pissed by unscru-
puious politicians In the midst OF
popular fNAtlNNF ny NNF Dtblll'f anu
then figure on what that useless legis-
latlon cost our state. II they viii do
so. and then seriously reflect upon the
spirit Of mob violence which their
rant produces, and also take into con-
federation the fac, that they arc try
ing to dlacuas n question about which
they know ma little az Popullst
knows about financial legislation, their
silence Will become so impressive that
the public will spontaneously burst
forth In applause. II may be conteud-
ed that the preacher and the editors
only discussed certain features of the
law with. which all men are acquainted,
Such contention would be grOundless,
Everything connected with u trial,
from the first pnpor that Is nled to the
decision rendered by the court Of last
resort, 10 part OF one OF the grnndest
branches OF science known TO man. No
man can justly oritlcise any step that
~ taken unless he 10 acquainted with
the details OF all that Is necessary IN
the case. Not only editors ana preach
ers should refrain from attacking the
criminal Jurisprudence OF our land. but
even those lawyers who do not cOnfnc
themselves especially 20 criminal law,
and who are therefore not acquainted
with its wise provisions. should not
object to that which they do not under
stand. The confusion that results
from the endless expression Of opinions
which are based upon ignorance. In
boundlesa Free speech nnd the liberty
of the press should never he abridged
by law. but common sense should teach
every man to talk and write about
those things upon which he has some
Information. ] have not undertaken In
this article to discuss any feature OF
our law. Time and space will not per-
init such diacugslon here and now
There are defoois In our law, and be-
leve that the system In based upon
mistake. But lawyers, not editors and
preachcrs are tho men to deal with
the defects or the law, and philosophers
from every calling should consider tho
great mistake which lies AT the base
Of law and many other Institutions
the dogma OF free choice. and the den
that human conduct Ia not governed
by natural law.
Relieving that every one Of us has
the best interests OF the public at
heart, I submit the above facta for the
consideration NJ all.
ANDREW II. JACKSON.