The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1909-10-15
rnllAlIrY aEroRE ~.


Theoretically in this land OF th'
free and the home Of the brave al
men of whatever State. race, position
or color are equal before the law. The
IIaw knows no distinction between th'
man who lives in a palace and th'
man who exists in a howell. Upon al
NJ our statute books the absolute
eouality Of man in the criminal courts
Is written large and bold. Every can
didate for every Office from Constable
10 President since this government
was instituted has delighted 70 tell
his hearers that every American, re-
gardless OF situation in life or en-
yironment. enjoyed exactly the same
rights. privileges and immunities
But alas and alack, how different
from these beautiful theories does the
situation appear in actual practice.
No man can deny that while all are
enual "before the law" they are not
equal lin the courts" The poor, ig-
norant. friendless individual who is
arraigned for crime stands mighty
small chance to escape punishment.
But the conviction of the man OF
wealth, of influence and of social posi-
ton is such a rare occurrence that 1t
Is always made the occasion for scare
headlines and editorial comment.
1t is nothing unusual to secure con-
victions for the illegal sale of liquor
Almost every day the press dispatches
note the imposition of fines for a vio-
lation of the prohibition statutes. But
in nine out of ten of these cases the
name of the defendant is followed by
the word "colored.' 1t is an easy
matter to convict a negro for selling
liquor, or for that matter for the COM
mission of any other crime. But the
ward boss the good fellow the
maker of Aldermen and Legislators is
allowed unmolested to sell liquor, to
run a gambling and a brothel. His
influence" prevents the return even
of an indictment, but should there be
a mistake and the grand jurors indict
his money makes convictions improb-
able. In rare instances the jury can
not be touched" by either influence
or money aud he is given sentence.
IN the latter event he Immediately
secures the services of pardon brok-
er and executive clemency saves him
from the consequences of his crimes
These are facts that are apparent
to every intelligent observer and tci
every student of American politics
We all know that our boast of the
equality of our citizens before the
law has absolutely no foundation that
there are no people upon the face OF
the earth who yield so readily to eX-
traneous and improper inuences as We
Americans. We refuse to recognize
titles. but we have stronger and more
influential class distinctions in this
country THAN Ill dllS OIuSl' w C IcthN
it for granted that the law means one
thing when an obscure, moneyless in
dividual is the transgressor and an
altogether different thing when some
person of wealth, family or political
influence is the accused. We do not
even treat prisoners charged with the
same offense alike.
But the people of this country will
aever have that respect for the law
and that reverence for lawful author
ity which are so essential for the
preservation of our liberties and the
security of our institutions until there
shall be absolute equality and justice
in the administration of the law. We
must make good our boast of equal
and exact justice. And that can be
done only by an impartial, fair and
Just enforcement of the law and the
execution of it's penalties upon all
violators without regard to heir sta
ton in life.