Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-04-28
ANOTHER PARDON-SEEkE

IL some people tried as hard to keep
out of prison as they try to got out of
prison, there would he loss pardon seekers.
We are moved to express this sentiment
by the announcement that John Farrar.
who rlisaprropriated $1,000 of the funds
of The Waterbury National bank, is hay
ing petition circulated in his behalf for
the purpose of securing a pardon More
over it is stated that the petition is being
signed by the most prominent people"
In view Of the frequency with which the
press is imrelled to protest against the
pardoninG of men who have abused the
trust and confidence reposcd in them and
brought ruin and suffering to hundreds
Of widows and children as we'll as others
1t is difficult to restrain ones Indignation.
There is question whom to blame
most, the importunate friends OF the Of
tenders, the attorneys who take pay to
work for tho release of the prisoners, or
the people who in spite Of being the most
promnent,' place themselves in the ranks
of those who are constantly helping to
swell the tide Of lawcssncss ana crime
1t is such an easy thing to sign n petit
ton, ard the abuse of the right of poti-
ion has become so marked that there is
crying need of some law to hedge about
the sarctity of the privilege for which our
forefathers fought. The petition. instead
of being token of liberty. has dcgener-
atod in many instances into mere tool
to nry open the doors of our prisons and
set free the lecches who are the dread
OF our financial institutions and the re-
preach of American justice.
The bank thief has come to constitute
a class by himself, and the ombezzor from
a financial institution who receives his
just deserts is rapidly becoming the ex-
ccption rather than the rule One would
almost suppose there was a movement ON
foot to make b$nk-theving respectable,
judging from the regularity with which
pardons are sought for these velvet fin
Pered purloiners.
Now there are unquestonably various
influences which would tend to create
sympathy for John Farrar excellent fam
'ly relations, sorroNing friends, former
excellent standing, youth. ard all
the rest. Bat these constitute unanswcr-
able reasons why Farrar should not have
stolen money placed within his reach
There was less excuse for him than for
the povcrty-etriCken mother who steals to
keep her children from starving, or even
for the husband and father who, like a
recent offender in the metropolis, sins
with the mistaken idea of PROMOTING the
interests of his family. Farrer had tender
relations which should have restrained
him from the commission of crime. and
he should have urged these to himself
then instead of pointing the public to
them now.
Justice is pictured blinded in order that
she may not see the things that would
cause her to swcrvc from the path marked
out for her and she has no more right to
remove the bandage from her eyes for
john Farrar than for the man who went
from the gutter to prison. His offence is
no less now than when he was convicted,
and those who are asking for his pardon
would hardly have the hardihood to say
that they know more about the fitness of
the sentence than the court that listened
TO all the evidence in the case.
Moreover Farrar will not complete four
Of the six years lie was sentenced to
serve at hard labor behind prison walls
until next June. lie stole over $4,000
and If he should receive a pardon at this
time, he would realize $4,000 for each year
of his imprisonment-a very comfortable
salary per annum.
While We have the utmost sympathy for
the friends of Farrar we maize that there
IS growing feeling that the pardon power
has been outrageously abused, that thi.
abuse is causing justice to he q by-word