Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-09-26

YQu can 81. once reach conclusion
as to the vast Importance of pure
elections Whenever the people OF
this oqHtfN become corrupt and the
vote of the country can be turned one
way or another by the use of money:
whenever the free voice of the Amer
lean people can be purchased at the
polls, the first step has been taken to-
wards the decay and destruction OF
the greatest republic that has ever
existed in history. speak upon TINS
subject with some feeling because
think see that this country is COM
mencing to tread, or rather to follow,
the path that led to the downfall and
destruction of the republic OF Rome.
II is said that history often repeats
itself. and such must have been the
observation of us all. Our government
is a little over 100 years old. Its
growth has been marvellous; its great
ness is wonderful, and 1t is being
watched by all the powers upon the
face of the globe because of its rapid
advancement and its great growth IN
every direction. When we reflect and
consider what our country really IS,
what growth we have attained and
what we have accomplished, we have
a right to-be justly proud of it. 1t
is because l am proud of this nation,
and proud of the flag, its emblem
of freedom that floats in the breeze,
that / am constrained to sound q
warning to those who listen to my
voice, to beware! You see in almost
every paper and you hear upon almost
every breeze that money, amounting
to millions, if necessary, will be con-
tributed for the election of this man
or that, who may be a candidate for
public office. The country has grown
SO hardened to this thing, and so
accustomed to it, that it no more awak-
ems the feelings of sensibility IN
the political nature of this country, to
arouse it to a consideration of what
we are tending to. 1t is time that we
should stop; it is time to call halt.
1t has to be commenced somewhere
and might as we'll be commenced in
the Mountain State of West Virginia
as anywhere else. The motto of this
States is that 'mountaineers are
always free"-"Montani semper liberi'
land this is the best place in the
country to inaugurate that which may
prove to be a revolution in the right
direction
No Personal Interest.
| have no more interest in this mat
ter than any member OF this grand
jury or any other citizen Of the State
We each and all of us want to transmit
to posterity or to those whose exist
ence we are responsible for in this
world, the same degree of liberty that
was handed down to us by the fathers,
unimpaired and with all its vigor. l
make these suggestions to you upon
this occasion, gentlemen of the grand
jury, because believe that it is the duty
OF the courts of the country to point
out these things Courts are presumed
to be and always should be above pol
itics. The judges of the courts of the
country should not get down into polit-
ical strifes. | do not mean that they
should not be permitted ito express
their opinions; | do not mean that
they should not be permitted to hold
convictions Every citizen of the coun-
try has a right to his convictions;
every citizen of the country has a right
to express his opinions; but | do mean
to say that judges should stand aloof
from the whirl OF political excitement,
and. if they can, set an example TO
those who surround them or those who
come in contact with them as to the
manner of conducting the political cam
vases of the country.
My attention has been called to this
subject by letters from members of
both the Republican and Democratic
parties. Had it not been for these cir
cumstances l doubt whether / should
have said anything to-day upon this
subject, except in most general and
restricted way.
Now, gentlemen of the gNand jury, /
do not want you to investigate any OF
the offenses of the past because the
statute of limitations has put bar
upon them; l do not see any necessity
for your attempting to investigate any
thing in advance of an election, be-
cause the offense may not have been
fully committed, or, if committeeman
suppose from what learn that there
have been some committed-it is better
that offenses of a political character
should wait until after the election is
over, and then il it becomes necessary
to investigate them, let them be inyes-
tigated after the turmoil OF political
strife has subsidized. l do not want any
body indicted for any supposed political
offense-I do not care what party he be-
longs to-before an election. 1t will do
no good now and will only have tend
ency to embitter one side or the other
as the case may he.
The Federal Law.
Now, there are certain statutes upon
the statute books which are unrepealed
Il refer to the statutes under the head
of Grimes Against the Elective Fran
chise and Civil Rights of Citizens -
but many, of them have been repealed.
Section 5507, Section 5508, Section $500
Section $50 and Section 5519 have not
been repealed. All these sections relate
more or less to Grimes Against the
Elective Franchise and Civil Rights of
Citizens" Grimes Against the Elec-
tive Franchise are crimes that refer to
the exercise Of the right Of citizen to
vote. a crime against the civil right OF
a citizen is practically the same thing,
because if you invade or interfere with
the civil rights of a citizen in any re-
5pect the o1fense is provided for under
the statute.
Section 5507 is for "intimidating
voters by bribery or threats" Section
5506 Furnishes conspiracy 10 injure or
intimidate citizens in the exercise oil
civil rights" Section 5000 provides the