Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1903-01-30

the penalties OF the broken law. No man
has right to favor his friend, not even
his boon companions. Nor has an officer,
who has been appointed to execute the law
any right to exercise his judgment as to the
merits or dement's of any law. mot his To
reason why, but his to do, and (if necessary
die"
All government is a compromise. We can
never get set of regulations to suit all par
ties concerned We try to adopt such
rules as will accomplish the greatest good,
not for the greatest number, as mauy sup
pose, but for all men. Our surest guide Is
to accept the judgment Of the majority. The
thief steals because he is unwilling to abide
by the Judgment of the majority, And the
man who breaks any other requirement Of
the majority, is just as guilty in the eyes Of
the law. In sense, all lawbreakers and the
officer who favors them, in his official capac-
ity, should be classed together. Only the officer
| Is perjurer in addition to his other crimes.
Let every man who has acted thus be brand
ed In the eyes OF all law.abiding citizens
with shame and confusion until he ultivates
a love for the truth.
And what have said in this onnection
applies also to the less formally appointed
officers of the law-such as jurors and law
yers. The juror who sits in judgment upon
any man accused of crime must render YER
dict, not according to his prejudice or opin-
ion of right or wrong, but according to the
evidence and the requirements of the law.
The man who will perjure himself in order
that he may render verdict according to his
| sympathies should be branded by no uncer-
| tain mark as a criminal-for such he Island
he should be deprived Of all rights Of citi-
zenship.
And 1t seems to me that a word with refer
ence TO lawyers would not be out of place
in this connection. The prevailing opinion
among men seems TO be that q lawyers BUSH
ness is primarily TO gain his case, regardless
| of any other consideration. He 10 regarded
| as having perfect right to adopt any method,
fair or unfair, il only he can accomplish the
desired end. Such an idea is grave error.
The function Of lawyer IN our system, as
understand it, is to see that no injustice 10
done He has no more right TO lie or prac-
tice fraud than the witness or the judge or
any other man. Yet 1t has been reported by
those in high authority that there are plenty
of lawyers who will not hesitate to use manu-
featured evidence when they can do 1t to ad-
vantage. | am also told that there are law
yers Of the highest repute who will make as
hard fight upon some mere bubble as they
would upon real issue, II only they can
succeed in confusing the mind of the juror
who is without legal training.
The lawyer who INDUCES in either OF
these practices makes a false representation
of the most serious natu!e, aud, II in this
way, he clears a criminal, he himself is guilty
of double crime. II is the same thing as II
for money he had taken key and, under the
cover of the darkness, had eluded the prison
keeper and set the criminal at liberty TO con-
tinue his terrible work upon innocent people.
Now, | would be the last man in the world TO
class all lawyers in this low grade. There
man in ha al aa
you will find anywhere, and have no kind
of patience whatever with the common and
commonplace insinuation that lawyers are
void of veracity Yet II has come TO pass
that in many Of the Court House trials the
world looks on as II 1t we're q contest be-
tween lawyers. The accused soon sinks out
of sight. II is no longer question OF guilt
or innocence, but Of subtlety and cunning.
And so say, that any man who Will prosti-
tute his profession to the practice OF fraud
and deception and sharp tricks should be
classed where he belOngs-with the low crim-
inal whom he shelters and defends. III hearty
sentiment OF love for the truth in this partic-
ular were created the excuse which is offered
for mob violence In 30 many cases would be
to a great extent removed.
Then, in the last place, we are 10 select men
who hate covetousness-hating unjust gains.
make no attempt to paint picture dark
enough 10 represent the man who sells his vote
I ask you TO consider this proposition; ls II
any worse for one man to sell his vote than
for another man to buy the voter Yot am
told that vote-buying plays an important
part in almost every general election. wish
il we're possible for us to believe that this Is
not true Then would suggest that we con-
slider the difference between the voters sell
ing his vote and the oficeholder's selling out
and betraying all OF his constituents Or, is
IL any worse TO sell out for so much money
than for an Office with fat salary Or, how
about the man who sells the appointment TO
an office II is said that there are those in
high authority receiving percentageot every
salary drawn by men holding places at their
appointment Again consider this PROPOSE
ton What is the difference between this
kind Of procedure end giving man an
office for party services2 The lat ter practice
is indul Eed in openly and aboveboard by the
least and the greatest There are thousan ds
of men holding Office to-day through no other
consid GRAFTON than their personal influence
with q number Of voters. BE 1t said 10 the
shame Of every one OF US.
The dread of every community in the early
ages was the organized band OF robbers.
The pirate was the terror Of the seas. Bloody
wars were waged for plunder Many changes
have taken place since that time, but we still
near tue confession OF the IOllOWor OF Tue
"spoils system"-''To the victor belongs the
spoils" 1t is the same system Of plumber
conducted by modern methods. Party leaders
come together and form a solemn compact as
to the division of the spoils before the fight
begins. The campaign is planned. Arms
and ammunition are collected money 10
catch the interruptions, gilded promises TO
catch the unsuspecting, cries OF danger TO
alarm the timid, heaps Of abuse to satisfy the
deprayed taste. The votes are sometimes
counted. Victory is proclaimed. Then
then, the people are spoiled, plundersd II
there are not enough Offices TO go around
others must be created The party must keep
faith with-whom with her Loan, hungry
politicians
The remedy Is in the hands Of the voter.
A reformation cannot be brought about 10 q
day, but a. soon AS the voter begins to meas
ure men by this standard, we will behold
the dawn Of our Star Of Hope. God speed
the day when men will no longer seek Office
for their selfish gains alone, but to serve the
people, shall be their first aim. | appeal 10
you voters, therefore, 10 the name Of your
manhood, for the sake Of your homes, raise
high the standard OF the ofice-bearer. Cast
your vote ia the fear OF God and according
TO your own best judgment Then, aud not
till then, will we rest 10 peace aud security
Then will 1t be written OF us blessed Is
that people whose God 10 the Lord "