The times., 1897-06-09
LEGAL INJUSTICE.
To the Editor Of The Times:

To the Editor OF The Times:
For one am pleased to see that you are
not In sympathy with the inequality OF
punishment meted out in this country for
criIpe and the favor shown those who have
had ever y educational and social advantage
Truly 1t seems anomalous that just across
the Potomac the populace ia a frenzy OF
rage should take the life of a relatively
inexperienced coiored youth, who was con-
stantiy placed where he was subject to
temptation and In few instances gave
way To it. and where responsible men in
the community and judges are In sympathy
with the mob or offer no protest against
IL, white here, in the Nation Capital an
educated white man, who should d half
century ago have learned wisdom and to
master himself, when proven guilty of
dehauching five little girls. out OF con-
sideration for his health is not made subject
to even Imprisonment. but made merely to
pay the nominal fine OF $3.50.
heathen Greek legislator, famous sor
iiiscrueIsy. laid downthe rule that ignorance
Of law lis no excuse for crime. Six hundred
years later another iawgiver, whom all
Christcndom is named after and recognizes
as Kingof Kings and Lord OF Lords, declared
the contrary TO be true, that ignorance Of
law is an excuse for crime, that when He
comes TO Judge the world In righteousness
and every man according to his work, He
will visit with few stripes the offender
who knows not the law, while he who
knew his Lords wil. and prepared not
himself neither did according To His viii,
shall be beaten with many stripes See
Bible, Luke. Kit, 35-4S. Undoubtedly the
meaning OF the Scripture is that the few
stripes Will be for those who are found
relatively ignorant OF the law. while
those W no are not privileged 20 know any
thing whatever eboutit will not be held al
all responsible for violating it, To this in.
terpretation Of its meaning agrees the
reply which Jesus made to the Phsrisees:
IF ye were blind, ye should have no sin:
bat now ye say. We see;' therefore your
sin reinaineth john, tx, Al.
AS regards the law of Moses. the Creator
did not fnakeits requirements so many that
the people could not know them Then ac-
curing information respecting them was
not left tochance and uncertainty and mere
tradition as the more barbarous and cruel
Gentle nations did. but the law itself
I.latle provision for definite instruction in
it of ali who were to be held subject 70 il.
IL hound not only the parents, master,
neighbor. and teaching priest to impart to
others information in regard to IL, but
the ciyh authorities as well had to as
senble all the people and read the law
In the hearing of every adult, both male
and female. horne born and stranger.
master and slave, and of every child
Deut.. XXI. 9-13.
May the God Of all mercy SO write his
law in the minds and hearts of the people
and OF their rulers and Judges that they
viii so reduce the volume OF the laws and
make their meaning so plain that every
one can understand them a nd then see to
IL tfat all the people have definite in
strUction In it; or that they will In onr
courts of justice practice so rnuch mercy
AS belongs to the administration OF Justice.
ISAAC keller.