The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-04-08
FRIDAY, APRIL $, 1901
The objectionable Sin.

The objectionable Sin.
several day. ago we commended q. the
8 .,>,-. sermon preached by Governor Mon
r,,a when he refused to pardon John
.M. KiuS. upon civic Righteousness. an
other such sermon was preached oS
srnara Adams, OF the United States Dis
,tr,ct Court sitting In St Louis, when ne
ssed sentence upon Senator J. *. Bur
~ 4, kansas. .'Your conviction, said
iIndr, Adams, necessarily results IN your
,u,ishment. Its Importance. IN my
on,n,on. Is not confined to Its effect upon
,on Your exalted station In life and tne
character OF your offense give unusual
4, significance to your conviction. ~ demon,
.trat.s that tho law Of the land Is equal
III ,o#an,. emergency, ard that 1t can Dc
administered regardless OF the rersonalt!
and station Of the accused. II also Demon
+ strates to all the people that PUBIC onlce
cannot be prostituted to self-serVlhs
purposes and that public office IS no. d
sure or safe passport to private thrift"
This delirerance is timely and impress
4 sive. It is a strange phase Of humanity
That Invariably there is more sympathy
IA with the criminal In high life than with
4 tha5 criminal OF humble circumstances In
no,nt OF fact tho criminal in high lie
Is more to be condemned. The BOY VINO
has been reared on the streets. who has
no advantage OF moral training who has
grown up like a Wild beast, with the idea
that Gil the world is against him, anu
that he has a primitive right to take from
cat 10 n
thief by education and Is expected to
steal. He has no conscience. he has no
z proper conception OF honesty and honor
and responsibility, We cannot expect o
person thus reared to be honest and up
riEht. We lock our doors against him
and II he succeeds in breaking through
z and stealing our possessions, 1t Is no
more than we expected. We put the
blame upon the bad locks, rather than
the thief.
But the case is far different with the
man who has been reared under moral
and refined influences. who has been
taught from his youth the difference be-
tween right and wrong, who thorough
ly understands the nature Of an obliga-
ton and trust It should be as un-
natural for a person thus brought up
10 commit d dishonest or a dishonorable
Ne. as !, is unnatural for the man
Brought up in the gutter to be honest.
yet when the latter steals and Is ap-
prsheaded he Is condemned as a thief
ard sent TO prison. and nobody gives
{,>Ht ~ IN
Life who goes wrong and hetrays his
trust, becomes an objac. OF sympathy,
and every effort is made 10 prevent him
from being !ioaNicted. II perchance he Is
convicted, at -.s reasonably certain that
petitions will be circulated for his pardon,
and usually the members OF the Jury who
convicted him will be among the first
10 sign.
Judge Adams took occasion when pass
tug sentence upon Senator Burton to en-
phas!Ea the fac, that tho Senator's crime
was exaggerated because OF tho high po-
siuon he held. and the pon, was vel!
made. There is every incentive to Il
United States senator 10 be honest and
honorable and TO keep himself above sus-
r,eiou. There is an inspiration in the very
title which the man bears. and by which
he is called. There IS something III the
very appearance OF the Capitol. some
thing in lis atmosphere; something In
the portraits and statues OF statesmen
building; something IN the sacred asso-
Citations o. whatever character, all OF
which lend 10 beset q spirit OF reverence
even in tho casual visitor. How much
:no.s should the member OF Congress
wao lives day by day IN such aslnosp here
with The responsibilities q Office upo.
kim. he influenced by the environment Il
do r.gAt and restrained from doing evil
II ,hsre Is 3 position under Heaven whic,
81 seems 10 safeguard a mar against III
temptation o. ava-sce. IL Is the positip'
@. United States senator in GonSress
How can a man holding such trust he
,ray Il, How can 2 man s.nltias suel
e. honor sen il for filthy money! Fh
.nsa in such q sisaaIlpa who sells out j
every wAis as mean as the traitor i
war ~Ee sSirays his country 10 III
enemy No matter what tlss past he. it /.
81 infamous cs!E4a tor mar 70 sell ou,
lna wap does 20 saoa!4 be denouace
and eIan5e4 as ! traitor. and seetst
SHOULD YARN It's aatk upo.. she,s; max
,assM 10 te+l lie spo-msEy a their prsmd
10 sx.sr.a 10 them executive cisHsesey o
10 izar,sfs.s. sympathy wirA tlsta Is {
put urensus& up9a treason, Ehts Is To
saAd In ,t4aEsllr.ssss. hUs IL Is s2st !!
earEestzess TIE satisfy Of orr insIi,y
,saa. demands sAat we make ut&sou i
al lis phases tsss uRpsr6ugals!s s5a.
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Hearst's Inspira ton.