The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1901-10-01
Qhe N}erala and 0ews.
x. III. AULL. EDIrOR.
THE PAKDONING POWER

with the exception OF his cOnsDicu
Gus failure to enforce the dispcnsary y
law, no other phase Of Governor Nc.
SWeencys administration has been ODc u
TO criticism so much as his free use OF
the pard0ning power. The newspapers
OF Che state, even some very friendly
10 MS excellency, have condemned hi ;
course IN this matter with more or less
severity. Realizing that it is not posi-
Die to accurately and fairly comment
on case the details OF which are not
1nlly known, we have preferred to say
mourning rather than risk being unjust,
rcallZlng also that an executive Of the
governors amlaOlc and Kindly DISPOSE
tion must find it hard TO resist the
touching appeals Of wives and mothers,
10 say nothing Of the establishments Of
eloquent attorneys. In only one or
two instances, therefore, where the
facts happened to be known TO Us or
where the Injustice has been patent
have we passed criticism upon the gov
ernOr's pardons.
but paragraph recently appearing
In these columns referring to the policy
adopted by Gov. Aycock, OF North
Carolina, in the matter Of pnrdons ha.
nit what Is evidently Il sore and tOuchy
spot nearer home. After quoting what
we said, the Ncwberry Hcrald and
A'S"o says.
Here follows what appeared in the
Herald and News and to which The
State takes cXccption:'
The beauty OF this is that it is an
editorial IN the paper whose editor is
inc private secretary to Gov. Nj. IS
McSWccney. An ingenious defense OF
his chief by Private Secretary Aull is
no great surprise, but partial evidence
does not weigh very heavily in any
court.
But to the issue. We had FORGOTTEN
the bill said to have been introduced
by Senator Mower. The bill was Ger.
tainly not pushed with any considers.
Die Vlgor and RS we have not the rca-
sons Othcr editors may have to keen
posted on Senator Mowers policies hia
Dill has escaped our rccollccii0n But
OF this late day we will remark that it
was along tic right line. Some pro-
vision should be made to ensure hear
ing OF each side Of every case in which
an application for pardon II made. II
advertisement Of the application and
petitions will accomplish that object
let US have it,
As for the board Of pardons, that sy-.
tenn Is approved by the best thonght Of
shc day and IL being generally adopted
Even II 1t Will not take from the gov.
crnor the legal responsibility for par.
dOns it will relieve him Of The moral
responsibility; and it will dctach from
MIN the SusplciOn--in some cases, the
conviction, very strongly heId--thnt h..
has used the pardOning power for hi, |
ambitious personal ends. Whether |
they be lcnicnt or strict in exercising |
the power Of clcmcncy governors, find |
themselves the subj bjcct OF criticism ana
nearly every executive would be GLAD
OF the opportunity to SHIFT the rr1pOn. |
sibility upon a board not supposed to
be affected by political considerations.
1t seems to us that u governor would |
welcome this proposed relief, for the |
granting Or refusing OF pardons cannot
DC pleasant duty.
1t is a pity shat Il big daily news,
paper like The State and the only
morning paper published at the cnpi-
tai OF the State cannot rise above petty,
:calousies and dislikcs and discuss any
question on It's merits without bringing
In personalities.
The fact that the editor OF The
Herald and News happens to be private
secretary to CIV. McSwccncy had
nothing whatever to DO with this qucs-
tion and in what we said last week
Gov. McSwccncy's name was not even
remotely mentioned.
The inSiuuatiOn tLs to Senator Mower
Is unworthy Il digniticd newspaper and
no gentleman would make it.
The fact is Senator HcrndOn's bill
was amended, so a. to require notice
to be given as to the filing Of the pcti-
tion and yet his bill was defeated.
We are not opposed to IL board OF
pardons as required by the constitution
but really we do not see much good it
could accomplish because the cOnstitu-
tiOn after all throws the responsibility
for pardons on the governor We do
think it would be good thing to have
the petitions for pardons printed, to.
gethcr with the names Of those who
signed the petition, and il this is not
done at least notice that the petition is
going to be filed should be published.
But this is no new idea with the gov.
ernor Of North Carolina because the
matter has been twice presented to the
South Carolina legislature.
We have never undertaken to make
any defense Of Gov. McSwccncy's use
OF the pardoning power because VIC
have never believed It needed any and
when the State newspaper rushes to
the conclusion that what we said was
In any sense intended to be a defense
OF Gov. McSweeney it was never more
deluded in it's life. 1t was another case
on the part Of the State Of putting up a
man of straw and knocking HIM down
as the State is want to do. Since the
question Of Gov. McSwecney has beer
raised In this connection we can say
that We have been with him now 70,
nearly three years and very intimate
ly associated and in the matter Of par.
dons he has always tried to find where
the path OF duty led and has walked
therein and the touching appeals OF
wives and mothers and the blandish-