The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-07-26

District, to investigate these matters and asked him to aid them in doing so. When these grand juries met, composed of the best of our people, men who could never be made instruments to initiate any pros- ecution, for any improper purpose, they were advised by the court that the ob- Ject in the enforcement of these laws was to stop the evil. and that as this was the first enforcement of the Federal law
 they should indict only those guilty of real oppression and wrong, and not tC concern themselves with technical viola tions of the law. This was the spirit in which the grand Juries have investigated these matters. These are the grand ju- ries. which have been represented broad cast. by some of our own people. as mak- ing raid upon the honor and good name Of the people of our State. How little truth there was in this, is shown in the fact that the grand jury lately adjourned, returned only eighteen indictments, and all these in fragrant cases. When these investigations began, you will recollect that statements were given out at one time In Washington by some one in the Secret Service there, for publication, as to matters which were the subject of in- vestigation here. This incensed me. it in- censed every right thinking man. because the cases ought to be tried solely by what would be testified on the stand, and the information should not have been used as basis for assaults upon the honor of whole people. as was done. by small section of the press abroad, whose act infiamed the people here. I deemed It my duty to call the attention of the President to this matter; to the injustice being done by some papers abroad in trying to hold our whole people respon- sible for the misdeeds of very few. I feel at liberty to state that wrote ask Ing his aid, which was given, to prevent public opinion being wrongly influenced abroad about these matters, and asked him especially to prevent the Secret Ser vice Bureau at Washington from giving out further information to the press l had letter from him. in answer to my letter on this subject, dated June 22nd. before any of the bitterness arose which has since been worked up. in which he con- cured In the views 1 had expressed, and speaking of the action of the Secret Ser
 vice people abroad-and I do not include
 In this any of the Secret Service men
 here, for they were not to blame and
 have conducted themselves with great
 discretion-he wrote. to quote his Ian-
 guage: 'I shall at once communicate
 with the Secret Service people as you suggest. Of course 1t was an outrage for them to give out the information '"
 This has been the attitude of every off,
 cial of the Government. so far as I know. and certainly of the court, simply to do justice acording to law without any thought of ulterior motive or object. If there has been undue excitement and feeling. engendered by transformation.
 and on other lines, 1t has not been the fault of those who were charged with the administration of the law and have en- deavored to execute it fairly. honestly. mercifully and impartially. As A Judre I am responsible to my God, to my con- science. and to a just and enlightened public opinion; but would never defend or explain my judicial conduct and rul- ing a particular case. except before my constitutional accusers and judges. the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States. As a Southern man. and one who loves his people, I do not feel that 1t is improper. when efforts have been made to engenaer ill-will among the people of the sections, and