The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-09-18

published a small volume entitled
Our Penal Machinery and Its Vic
TINS" which is regarded as one of
the best works ever published on the
| subject of our penal system. In 1890
a volume entitled Live Questions APP
| peared from his pen, being a discus
sion OF some of the problems of the
/ day. In 1884 he published volume ii.
! of Live Questions"
He was nominated for Governor of
/ Illinois on the Democratic ticket in
/ the spring of 1892. He immediately
! determined to become personally ac-
| quainted with the people of the State
and therefore made a personal tour of
/ the entire commonwealth, going into
the towns and villages of one hundred
! and two counties; meeting the people
| in the factories, stores and shops, and
at the same time comforting with
the politicians. He arused wonderful
enthusiasm. This tour, during which
he made no speeches, was completed
in September. He then made a second
canvass of the State, speaking at all
of the principal points. The State
of Illinois had formerly given Repub-
lican majorities ranging from 10000
to $4,000, but MIR. Altgeld was elected
DY upwards OF &&eUUU MAJORITY.
BY an intimate friend, the Governor
is described as "a calm, resourceful,
silent man, of indomitable industry
and keen perceptions, who believes that
if you want thing well done it is
best to do it yourself" There is one
element of his nature which indelibly
marks all of his acts; that of sym
pathy. lie is essentially sympathetic
AlthNnpeh CtaruIv awaofinoe with hun
self, he is always quick to discover
eXtenuating circumstances in cases
where the short. colnugs of others are
concerned. His strong sympathy for
those who toll with their hands is
shown in his writings, but he has never
had any utilization, or even acquain-
lance, with labor leaders, and never
attended any of their meetings. AS a
judge his fairness and impartiality
were matters of common comment.
Rich and poor Jared alike before him.
No powerful back-door influence could
reach him, and no man was so poor
that he could not have a hearing. His
utterances on the bench and his style
in literature, as well as his more recent
public papers, show remarkable clear
ness of mind and powerful and ineisive
manner of expression. In demeanor he
is modest, for the most part silent and
unobstrusive His familiarity with
modern literature, in all its branches,
is wide. He finds an especial pleasure
in poetry and likes the drama.
A remarkable incident in his career
as Governor of the State, which aroused
the wrath of almost the whole civilized
world, was the pardon of the lamar
chists.' While examining heir case,
Governor Altgeld came to the conclu-
sion that they had been tried by
packed jury and convicted on public
clamor. He could find no evidence
whatever to show that they were gull
ty of the crime charged, the prosecu-
ton having never found out who had
actually thrown the bomb and having
been unable to connect the defendants,
or anybody else, with the act Further
than that, he found that the Supreme
court of the State had in a recent case
laid down rule of law in regard to
the competency of juors which was
just the opposite of that laid down in
the anarchist" case. Tt appeared to
him that he either had to grant the
pardon or shirk a duty; and he did
not hesitate to act on his convictions
of justice. The men were poor and
His act seemed to involve
ruin, with no possibility of gain, but
he granted the pardon. No official in
the recent history of the world has ever
been so severely criticised as he has
been for this act; but he is a man of
positive convictions and he gazed at
the storm calmly and pursued the even
tenor of his way unmoved and undis-
turbed. Those who have taken the
trouble impartially to investigate all
the facts in connection with this trial,
and who have read the Governors
reasons for pardoning the three men,
have come to the conclusion that his
action was justified. 1t can further
be said that those who have had the
pleasure of Governor Altgeld's more
intimate society regard him with adj
and affection.
He is a brainy, energetic, fearless
man. He is the central figure and
greatest power of Illinois Democracy,
and is leading the fight for free silver.
Z NJ TEACH