The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-02-17
JUSTICE RATHER THAN MERCY

JUSTICE RATHER THAN MERCY.
Some days ago the Charlotte observer
in the interest of peace as il said, called
upon those good citizens" Judge BOYD
and District Attorney Holton, to put an
end to the prosecution, which the Demo-
Gratis deem persecution OF the regis
trars who acted in the election OF l9UV
The Observer spoke in the highest terms
of these two Republican officials express
ing faith in their good intentions end a
desire TO secure peace in North Carolina.
Through their organ, the Union Repupn-
can. these officials make reply to the
appeals to put an end to the polltlcai
prosecutions that Judge Boyd and Attor-
ney Holton are waging against good men
who enforced the law as they understood
it. Here is the Union Republicans an
swer to the plea for peace:
I'VE have the highest respect for that
9oci nature of the yenerated Charlotte
Observer in wanting to see in his matur-
er wears peace and quiet prevail in the
land and we accredit all dues to our
n.lghbor. the Daily Sentinel, for having
the breadth of view 70 see and endorse
this charitable" view of the Observer,
but. the great pity with the brethren is
that this moral sap did not begin to rise
in them sooner, and that they waited
until the winter blasts We're on before
they began 10 put forth their fragrance
and to yield their fruit. Such spurious
growth is so liable to be nipped, for the
hoary head of winter will hardly sop
10 bow recognition TO the little shrub
brv that has waited until after the season
has passed.
Can the strong arm of Justice be wrest-.
ed after crimes have been committed and
: after they have been recognized and nave
been brought within the pale OF the courts
upon the sworn testimony OF law-apldlng
Sand aggrieEed citizens? Oh how beautl1ul
it would have been had the Charlotte
Observer and the Daily Sentinel peen
prepared 10 desire peace and quiet IN the
land about the time the violators OF law
and disturbefs Of the peace were putting
in their work. How sweet the little
Injunction. stop" would have been about
that time!
If the wrath of Just God could have
been appraised after father Adam had
transgressed- the divine law we no DOUBT
would have. been today the inhabitants OF
an Eden, and likewise If Cain had been
let 30 free after he had smitten his
brother Abel we would net have been
subjects Of fugitiveism and vagabondlsm-
Would that. the law had not been vlo-
lated-either then or now-but since IL
has been done we canot ask the courts
4lNo nff fl
GERS to perjure themselves and betray the
public trust and prove traitors to the
cause of law and justice by Ice snug
Cling process. Upon what grounds could
the Judge or the district attorney
"stcp?H Have they no evidence? Ma not
the grand juries find true bills? How can
they stop if they wanted to? Is IL dis
cretionary with the district attorney an"
the court 10 punish violators OF the law
or lei them go free. or can the- discrim-
inate against the class of crime? Are
not the violators of one statute as guilty
as the violators of another statute, and
is ii not the sworn duty of the district
attorney to prosecute against the viola
ton of the one statute as much as the
violation of another statute? The court
and the prosecuting attorney can deal
out no more leniency to the violator OF
the Federal Constitution and the law
protecting the peoples franchise tnan can
they TO the Door fellows who violated the
internal revenue laws.
The Observer and the Daily beg the
question as to the innocence of their
charges, and since no point is made on
his, it might be we'll 20 let the court and
the district attorney go on in the dis
charge of their duty. Impartially and not
''retaliatory," but with firmness."
Here we have the Republican organ of
the State, edited by revenue and other
Federal officials, demanding the severest
penalty against Democratic registrars
who carried out the law as they under
stood it, and declaring that Federal Off
clals ..can deal out no more leniency to
the violator of the Federal Constitution
than can they to the poor
fellow who violated the internal revenue
laws" Here we have the Republican
position officially stated: IAN eye for an
eye, Ito Willingness to believe these
Democratic officials acted honestly and
with good intent no leniency 10 State Of
fcials who we're MOI familiar with the
laws. no suggestion of mercy to humble
men who stand as high in their COM
mu1iities as any men IN North Carolina.
On the contrary the Union Republican de-
clares would that the law had not been
violated but since ii has been done.