The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-07-14
LET THIS BE THE END.

The entire confidence felt and ex-
pressed by the G l o e in the state
board of pardons has been splendidly
indicated by its unanimous denial
of the application for a pardon for the
Youngers. The majesty of the law has
been upheld. The attempt to
destroy the belief of the public in the
possibility of maintaining order and to
encourage the evil-doer has been frus-
trated. For this every good citizen
thanks the state board of pardons from
the. bottom of his heart. 1t has done
no more and no less than it's duty; but
the performance of duty by those
placed in trying and responsible posi-
tons is not so common a thing that it
should pass without the heartiest pub
lic recognition. The G l o e, WHICH
bore the brunt of this battle alone until
the country press and the people of
Minnesota spoke as 1t knew they would,
has no satisfaction so great as the con-
Viction that it has fought a good fight
for the imperiled dignity and peace of
our great commonwealth, and for the
maintenance of a moral order that was
assailed
There is an impressive lesson, too, in
the story of this campaign for the re-
lease of the Youngers. 1t shows once
more how surely eternal vigilance is
the price not only of liberty, but of
every good thing that we can ask or
expect from the state. Had the people
been supine or Indifferent, had they
not been extremely ON the alert, the
result might possibly have been diff
ferent. For the movement was shrewdly
managed. Within a week of the event all
the carefully placed batteries were I'M
masked, those supposed to be friends
were spiking the guns of the opposi-
ton, and it might have appeared to a
superficial observer as if Minnesota
lived for but the one purpose of seeing
the Youngers pardoned But when the
appeal was made to the people, when
men threw themselves into the breach
how quickly the truth appeared. and
how pitifully the case prepared tum-
bled like house of cards. The argu-
ments made, the pleas set forth were
riddled to pieces; and even the Pioneer
Press, which had made itself the cham
picn and mOuthpiece of the agitation
for pardon, was forced to confess, at
emf hoT
sist, in view Of all the facts, upon the DO
sition it had so mistakenly assumed.
Yet but for the press all over the state
and but for the bold and vigorous men
who came from Mortified and from
Faribault and elsewhere to relate the
true though familiar story of a. long
past crime, sentiment might have
triumphed over justice. All honor to
them for what they did to make the
path of duty before the board of par
dons as clear as the MONDAY sun.
There is just one thing upon which
we think that the people of Minnesota
have now right to insist, and that is
that this determination shall be held
final For years the possible pardon
of the Youngers has been discussed,
and more than one attempt has been
made to secure it. This time every
argument possible to unearth was en-
ployed; every influence that could
weigh was secured; every representa-
tion that could avail was spread be-
fore the people. At no future time could
any evidence be adduced that would
strengthen the case as it stood in the
year 1897. The voice of the people has
been heard against a pardon with no
uncertain sound The press of the state
has declared itself with remarkable
unanimity. The board of pardons, hav-
ing considered its duty solemnly, has
rendered it's decision by a unanimous
vote. If ever any question Is to be
considered settled, this should come
within the definition. If there is any
finality in the command of law and
=" = mandates of our courts, it should