The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1895-09-13
QUALITY OF MERCY. +"
John n. Horner Believes in Libsr-
sting Political Prisoners.

see spirit OF Cancellation abroad
among the people and in the Gev
eminent for dealing with our polit
ical prisoners; / don't believe any
clemency wisely extended to then
will be regretted. 1t must act with
happy effect upon all prisoners and
those who are not prisoners,
General Grant proposed to General
Lee. when be surrendered the army
of Northern Virginia, to allow "all
officers TO retain their side-arms,
their private horses and baggage,
and 20 home and stay until ex-
changed" Lee, upon reading this
generous proposal to fallen foe,
remarked, This will have a happy
effect upon my army" When Lee
informed General Grant that "the
cavalrymen and artillerists own
their horses in our army; its or
gsnization in this respect differs
from that of the United States"
General Grant without urging said,
"Well, the subject is quite new to
me. OF course l did not know that
any private soldiers owned their
animals, but l think this will be
the last battle of the war. l sim
cerely hope so and 1
take it most Of the men in the
ranks are small farmers. =
l will arrange to let all
who claim to own q horse or mule
to take the animal home with
them to work their little farms"
Lee looked greatly relieved at
these merciful concessions, and OBJ
served. This will have the best
possible effect upon the men. 1t
will be very gratifying and will do
much toward conciliating our peo-
pie" Knowing the effects Of these
concessions and that no harm ever
came Of them, who will not say,
God bless the merciful man?
The Master says, BLESSED are
the 1nerciful, for they shall obtain
mercy" The thought is well illus
trated practically by one incident |
in the life of the Master. When |
before Him was brought a certain |
trembling sinner, her life forfeited |
according to the law, and when the
accusations rained from all sides,
He sorrowfully bent down toward
the earth, tracing His thoughts in
the sand before Him, as in contem-
plation OF the vast problem involved
in the work which was His-to save
that which was lost. The accusers
were as eager for her blood as was
He to redeem that in her nature
not yet beyond redemption. And
ever since, the story has been re-
peated. 1t is contest be-
tween stern, revengeful JUS
tice and sweet mercy, not to
be ended satisfactorily to the
divine judge until both can triumph
together. The foregoing is a fair
sample of the master carrying out
his own teaching.
Several Of our political prisoners,
like the woman above referred to,
have forfeited their lives according ,
to the law, were tried. convicted
and sentenced but instead OF exc
cutting stern justice upon them, the
authorities have extended mercy
and the act will be applauded by
the world. We are pleased to
know the authorities are contem-
plating further &C. Of clemency to- D.,
wards them and are being eucour-
aged to do so By the loyal clubs
and the community. Should they
,onditionally release all, the act +
would be commended by our peo- !
pie and be a heavenly lesson for :
man to initiate, as it
would tend as General Lee said,
This Will have the best possible
fleet upon the men. 1t will be :
Iery gratifying and will do much !.
oWards conciliating our people, =
Sweet mercy" will DO more to- =
wards conciliating enemies, than =
tern justice, not only TO prisoners, =
,ut to the prisoners friends, and =
hey are many. .
As General Grant said. The war G
} over the rebels are our country u
neu again" As soon as it is wise
D do so they should be go treated,
s they were our associates and
eighbors as well as fellow citizens e,
nd may again become so if not II
,ade revengeful enemies by ''stern r
lstice' Do mean the exiles as o,
ell as prisoners? Certainly, as Il
hey can and will do more injury g
broad as enemies, than they would ~
o at home If concilisted as above. 70
The ex-queen has taken tie oath n
I'd no doubt will stand by it, as h,
er former experience in disregard q,
lg her solemn VOW has been bitter -
nd costly, besides she is stern, p
stermined, intelligent woman not n
.sily turned from her determined =.
'urse. 1 would say with the a,
sster, $50 and sin no more :" if