The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1900-12-04
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1900 j.
WISE EXECUTIVE CLEMENCY.

thorized that official to nullify two
thirds of the work of the criminal
courts of this state during the past
five years Butte Inter-Mountain.
The NUMBER of pardons granted by
the governor is what seems to be
worrying the mter-Mountain, and the
other state papers that have been find
ing fault with the governors exercise
of the pardoning power. 1t is not that
the pardons are undeserved, or inim-
ical to the ends of justice and the OBJ
servance of law-but it is the number
of them. Just how many pardons
may be granted without exceeding the
r-Mountain's idea Of the proper
number, it does not condescend to say.
Neither does it explain what the num-
Der has to do with it. If the reasons
are good, why should not fifty pardons
be granted as we'll as one or a dozen?
And as for the insinuation that the
pardons granted have nullified two
thirds of the work of the criminal
courts OF the state for the past five
years, it is extraordinary to say the
least. What is the purpose Of Grim
inal courts? Is it to punish for the
purpose of revenge or for the purpose
of reformation? If the former, then
the faultfinding of the Inter- Mountain
has perhaps some merit, but if the
latter, as is usually understood, the
statement that the granting of ten
or dozen pardons nullifies two-thirds
of the work of the criminal courts of
this state during the past five years
is wholly gratituitous and false.
The lnter-Mountain seems to have
the notion that when a conviction is
had in the courts, the state should
insist on it's pound of flesh to the last
fraction of an ounce. 1t seems to
have no conception of a state of af-
fairs that would render not only a
dozen, but even hundred pardons
excusable and even advisable for the
hnc iy,tn r,f ;lf>
The Inter Mountain, or any of the
other numerous newspaper critics of
the governor has given no reason why
have been withheld, while on the
other hand the governor has carefully
investigated each case and his action
has invariably had the approval of the
warden of the penitentiary, the board
of pardOns and the more or less unani-
nous support of the agencies instru-
mental in securing the conviction
There is no charge that the governor
has granted any pardon through per.
sOnal motives and it is reasonable
presumption that where his Judgment
has led him to extend executive elem.
ency, the conditions have fully war.
ranted his action within the limits of
the letter and the spirit of the law.
Mercy wisely extended is far more
effective reformatory factor than is
the justice that demands every thing
nominated in the bond, even to the
last farthing of monetary obligation
or the last minute of prison sen.
tence. A pardon which corrects a
substantial injustice not apparent at
the time of conviction; a pardon
which restores to citizenship one who
was but temporary offender against
the laws, and encourages him in the
effort to retrieve his place as an hon.
est man and good citizen, and the
chance OF pardon which encourages
hope, are among the most effective
means known to penologists for the
reformation of criminals. That the
governor has found so many of the in
mates of the state prison worthy OF
executive clemency is a matter fl,
congratulation, and that he has had
the courage to exercise that
clemency in spite of the thouehtless
clamor against it is to his credit.