Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-07-16
PARDON OF THE YouNeERs.
Minneapolis Times.)


Whatever opinions person, or a
newspaper, may have as to the justice
of the exercise of the paroling power
in the case of Coleman and James
Younger ii would surely be ungracious
to dwell upon them now. No matter
what these men may have been in
youth no one denies to them a record
during Imprisonment that is highly
creditable. That they will use their
liberty in sober fashion and conduct
themselves as good citizens. those who
known them best give absolute assur-
ance. That there is. deep, sympathy
for them in the hearts of many who
have opposed their parole is true. The
excelsior of a quarter of century from
human life strikes every one of us as
an appalling thing.
We can afford to refrain from ethi-
cal discussion concerning the action of
the pardoning board and confine our
selves to congratulations to the liber-
ated prisoners. 1t is to be hoped-we
believe the Youngers share the hope
that they will not be made objects OF
veneration by sensation mongers; will
no be singled out for special and I'M
merited marks of favor; will not be
treated as heroes; will not be placed
on pedestals for cltizens who were
never confined in state prison TO adj
mire. The career of the Younger
brothers is not one that should serve
as an example to youth. Unless the
prisoners are misrepresented they
4 recognize to the full the gravity OF the
crimes they committed and their coun.
sci to younger men should it be asked
or given, would be 'Avoid the paths
we trod long ago. Obey the laws. Con
troll your passions. Aim for good cit
izenship."
Certainly congratulations are due
the relations of the Youngers and thE
friends who, without possible hope OF
personal gain, have for years striver
for the end now attained. We do mo-
believe these relations or friends
would desire the situation other thar
it is or that the Youngers should b.
liberated absolutely and all supervi
sion removed. 1t is well that for thu
present at least they must remain
within the state and must make know
their whereabouts periodically to th'
officers of the law. 1t rests will
: themselves, and with the fates tina
govern the length of human iif:
whether or not they shall in due tim
be received into full citizenship AM
: thus accord the absolute measure .
freedom that should go with the It'll
"a Voter of the United States o
" America
: Another View.
. The parole Of the Youngers is one o
! those acts of mercy which is twic
. blessed. 1t blesseth him that give
and him that takes. 1t will be approx
. ed by public sentiment throughout tn
:, state. 1t is worthy of note that no on
y appeared before the board of pardo
:. in person or by written remonstranc
= :. to enter protest against this mitigatio
y y of the penalty of the law. Even thos
= who most bitterly opposed the pardo
L of these men could find no reasonabl
ground for objecting to their releas
from prison on parole. For parole
not pardon. They are still prisoner
g subject to the control and surveillanc
r. of the prison authorities. There ha
is for several years been distln'
1t change in the attitude of public sent
% ment. Not that time has softened tt
a general Indignation of the crime
o crimes of which they were guilty. BIZ
p the men themselves have change
They are not the Younger boys WI
IL nearly twenty-five years ago belonge
Id to the gang of highwaymen and de
ly peradoes who raided Northfield, unde
III took to rob bank there and shot II
lie cashier in cold blood. They are ca
r. ed by the same name. In organic 4
he physical continuity of existence the
lie are the same men. But they are n
rs the same persons. They are Who'll
ID different from the Younger boys
e. 1876 in character, in all that cons
vs. tutes the moral personality. IT
To- change is not one OF metamorphos
e. however. 1t is change of develc
OF ment For it has become evident tn
is these men were not radically vicio
h or deprayed, that in their normal e
ed ments of character they were bra