Morgan County democrat. (Versailles, Mo.) 1900-1906, 1903-09-18

sf'}Clo p|UDllln"l IN Z Ncll-hUOWu M18
A2ine, advocating the abolition of ap-
peals in criminal eases. WTiic we
may moi lie ready to go TO That ext 1t.
II Is unfortunately true that there Is
entirely too much laxity In the IN
forccmcnt of the criminal law. This
criminal law has come 10 be regarded
AZ a machine for the protection ol the
guilty instead c. The punishment OF
TIE guilty. WITH us n man may be
sDicmnly tried fnr a felony: a jury of
his peers may pronounce him guilty
ami sentence him to the pen~itcntiary.
We. II he be wealthy OF have influential
friends he cal Immediately give bond
pending appeal. and walk out of the
court alonE with the jury that rom
victed him. The wretch who Is unable
tn give bond must abide his time In
patience Within the pcnitcntiary walls,
while his appeal Is being passed on.
This system is not democratic, It Is M
"eq ial a'id exact justice to all, special
ri"ilep's to none" for 1t gives to the
rich MAD his liberty on his appca! and
denies I to the poor man. | have some
symla'h ny for the man who comes into
court charged with crime, the result
largely of environment. but | have
none for the man who has about him
the cloak of respectfully and glamour
of wealth. who deliberately cleans out
municipal lardcrs and plumbers the
people of m entire state. II mercy be
shown. | would have it extended to
those who know not what they do
when they violate law.
The right to bail after conviction
should exist not as a matter of right.
but solely on the doubt that MAJ cy-
list as to the Defendants guilt. \ law
should be enacted providing that after
conviction for Il felony there shall be
no stay Of execution III appeal unless
a judge of the supreme court, upOn an
inspection of the record shall deter
mine that there is n reasonable doubt
Of his guilt, and probable cause for the
| appeal. When the evidence of guilt Is
plain and clear and there is no error
In the trial, it Is a mockery on justice
To have u defendant Immediately upon
the verdict of the jury being an
%nounCcd, merely sign a bond and 20 his
way a If nothing had happened. There
are times when this loosencss of jul
diCial proceedings breeds a spirit of
mob violence in the people Good gov
eminent demands a correction Of this
condition. There Is Il statute On che
books now thai evidently aimed TO ac-
Complish this result, but II has been
rendered nuga,ory BY otter statutes
and judicial constructions.
The corrupt .'gislator trafiic3 in the
honor of a sovereign people. Tha soul
OF the state Is It's honor, when chat IL
gone all Is lost. Corruption costs In
civic honor: it costs in money. for cv-
cry dollar paid a corrupt official must
come ont Of the people In one way or
another: above all. the cost of cOrrUp-
ton is the inevitable decay of the gov
eminent where 1t Is tolerated. anh the
people.
Civic dcpravity can no exist If the
people make up their minds not to per
NIT II. There Is nothing s % powerful
as public sentiment. There can be NJ
stranger organization than the hearts
and conscience of the people. The
corruptionists ran not stand before the
sentiment of n Just. intelligent ant
aroused people. Let that opinion have
n free course; let il be pronounced IN
thunder tones, let II open the ears OF
the deaf; let It open The eyes of The
blind and lot II everywhere be pro,
claimed what we Of this great state
think Of the principle Of civic right.
couSncss ana of that corruption we ali
hor. Let III" 'ecree be announced and
enforced, that the co~rruplionists mus
20.