Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1895-05-23
EXCHANGE IDEAS.

Gov. Woodbury's explanation Of hi
reason for the pardon Of McCarty
Burlington's pet rumseller, is a vul.
nerable object of criticism by the state
press. The selling Of liquor is an Of
Tense against the law and no more ex-
cusable than any other crime, A VIC
lation Of the law is such, whether one
believes in the law or not. This being
conceded, why should the offense Of
liquor selling be conditionally par
doned any more than any other of.
Tense ? Why shouldn't Gov. Wood
bury pardon anyone convicted Of
criminal assault or burglary, if he
will promise to 60 out of the business
and not do so any more? Why this
distinction between violations OF the
law? We submit that this reasoning
is proper and that Gov. Woodbury's
position is absolutely untenable. If
reduced to its legitimate result, every
convicted law breaker in the state
who promised to reform would be re-
leased on probation. The plain fact
is that the McCarty case is very un-
fortunate precedent, and entirely in
defensible. Gazette.
The Wilmington Times says it is
disappointed in the character Of Gov.
Woodbury." since the pardon of the
Burlington rumseller, McCarty, on
condition that he 60 out of business.
And the Times adds:
The people Of Vermont elected him
to the high Office Of chief executive Of
the state as man in the full sense of
the word with strong mind of his
own, and above all as staunch advo-
cate Of the prohibitory law. But if
this story is all true he is evidently a
traitor to his party or a ''milk and
water" man who has no strong con-
victions ofhis own but is rather moved
about by every breeze that blows.
y 1t can be readily seen that if this
policy were put into practical execu-
ton the Vermont Prohibitory law
would soon become null and void.
There is no gainsaying the PROPOSE
ton that the governors critics are
right if the prohioitory law is right,
and a promise not to do so any more"
is not an adequate reason for par
don, provided the selling of liquor is
rs much a crime as theft or arson, as
the law makes it. But the governor
in an interview defends his action on
the ground, really though not pro-
that the law is wrong and he
has the right and the duty to accom-
plish its purpose by extra-judicial
means. He says repeated prosecu-
tons have failed entirely to stop this
mans liquor selling which under the
theory OF the law only affords rea-
son for Furnishing all the more severe
" and relentlessly-and that if Nc
Carly had been left in the house of cor
rection, the liquor selling would have
gone on in his place under some other
name, just the same as it has done
year after year in the past; but by
granting pardon on his promise not
again to engage directly or indirectly
in the traffic. the governor has ac-
good for temperance in
closing long notorious liquor hole.
In other words, the governor has ac-
the purpose Of the law by |
absolutely overriding the law in what
ne shows to be one of the most aggra-
'ated cases of violation. There is no |
ienying the goodness of his inten-
ions and perhaps not the practical
ense Of his action; but the fact only
orms an Indictment Of the law for un-
'easonableness, inefficiency and i'm
,racticability.- Brattleboro Reformer.
A Mo0nshiner Caught.
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