The log cabin Democrat., 1910-01-13
/IZ4AUOV7HER RfzvlXpLES @l2EHsCCRACY Ben L. Griffin, Candidate for Congress

from responsibility, because it is too easy to produce such a condition as a paliation for crime. Ever insane peo- Die often have wholesome fear of punishment, and may be deterred by a knowledge of results.
 Fourth It is indeed hard to resist su>h pleas are always to be rewarded with pardons, convictions would be of no avail, as every wife and mother would importune the chief executive until prayers had been answered.
 Firth. When many petitions, signed by good and influential citizens, are presented it is peculiarly hard for a chief executive to refuse, because it seems like setting his personal judg ment up as superior to that of many men Of the highest character and abil ity. But it is necessary to note here carefully real distinction. Some peo- pie sign such petitions purely from considerations of friendship without regard for the real merits of the case. Many others are induced to sign be- cause of kind instinct. Many more sign because it is easier for them to sign the petition than to refuse, but they secretly hope that the petition will not be granted. It should, howev- CT, be distinctly understood that pe- titioners, as rule, have not heard the evidence, nor have they had sufficient opportunity to judge as to the merits of the case, nor are they under oath or official obligation, while the governor, however ready to please a friend, or however kind-hearted he may be, IS un- der the most solemn oath to administer the laws and execute his official acts with justice and with regard to the in- terests of the whole people. If par dons are to be granted only when sought by the many, and the infiuent- ial, then the poor, friendless convict, however worthy, may expect nothing; while any man with sufficient influence to secure large petitions, may hope for and rely on executive clemency. If pardons are freely granted, under great pressure, then more and more the pressure will be used, and the yer diet of honest jurors and decisions of upright judges will be set aside. The courts are the bulwark of our liberties. To nulify their acts and weaken their authority when carefully and properly exercised leads practically to anarchy. However great the provocation, our civilization is threatened whenever the individual takes the responsibility of vengeance into his own hands. Human life in America is too cheap, it is said. Reliable statistics, as given by recent magazine writer, show that during the last 28 years, almost as many homi- cdes have been committed as the whole number killed and dead from wounds in both armies in the war between the states. We all know that the taking of human life has been too lightly com sidered in Arkansas. Nothing adds to the disturbance and unrest of law abiding localities so much as the kill ing of human being. This distress is accelerated to greater extent when those who do the killing escape unpun- ished Human happiness and the pros perity of the community are alike af- fected.
 Then, however great the provoca- tion, however justifable Ellis might have been in resenting injury to him self or those dependent upon him, in this case, whether temporarily insane