Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1909-11-04


that public opinion has very much
to do with the frequency or rari-
ty OF crime. 1t forms a sort of
moral atmosphere which all.nust
breathe. Try as we may, it is
difficult to free ourselves wholly
from it's influence. Hence the ne
cessity of doing everything in
our power tc contribute to the
formation Of a right public con-
science.
BY public opinion we mean not
only the:spoken or, printed word.
but our general attitude, or man
ner OF acting, as well; and this
practical expression of opinion iS
stronger and more influential
than sp ech. To- illustrate: We
have but to notice. the two COM
mon methods OF dealing with
criminals. Needless TO say, all
the criminals are uot in the lock-
up; and We may very truthtully
add that the biggest and worst
are still at large, and that this is
du", in great measure, to th e
practical attitude OF our public
oftirials and OF the public gener-
ally in dealing with these men.
Only a few weeks ago a news
item appeared in the Sunstating
that a mana certain Whitaker
had been sentenced in the Grim
inal Court OF Suffolk, Va, to two
years imprisonment for stealing
an orange, notwithstanding the
mans plea that he was forced by
hunger 80 took the fruit, having
eaten nothing for two days. Not
so very long since there was a
similar case of a long-term SEN
tpDce imposed for the theft OF a
ham 1--WE don't remember the ex-
act length Of the spntt nee, not
having the clipping at handy.
When asked if he had anything
to say in his defense the prisoner
replied: Nothing exceptto thank
God that l didn't take the whole
pig" AS our readers are fully a.
ware, these are urettv fair sam
pies OF the manner of mating out
(justire to the low down criminal
who has neither money n % /
friends AS q rule, the petty thirt
gets Justice with a vengeance.
On the contrary it is a notori-
ous fact that the colossal rogues
|-those who steal on a large scale
frequently go unpunished or
with a nominal punishment ut.
terly out OF proportion to the
crima. In fact the bigger the theft
the more likely they are to get
immunity. There are, 1t is true,
notable and most praise-worthy
exceptions: bht it is almost tht
rule to show greater lenience to-
ward the hig sharks-the men
who steal from The govprnmen!
or from the community at large
by the thousands orthe millions
We All know how difficult it is to
secure the conviction of men O
wealth, influence or politica
prominence.
Nor is it only in the tribunals
of Justice that We find these con-
diiions. The same state exists
practically in society. In words
we are loud enough in our. con
demnation of the big malefactors
But is it not an unquestionable
fact that many of these men, ir
spite of the clearpst proofs a.
gainst them. are. received by so
ciety without shame with open
arms-aye, and even llonlzed by
it? People who would scorn to
associate with the common OF
petty thief-with the man who
stole q loaf OF bread-are proud
to be numbered among t h {
friends or acquaintances OF the
clever land-grabber, the rail
lroad or corporation robber.
!. In stating these facts, which
are patent to every obsprvant
reader, there is no intention
, whatsoever Of condoning or min