Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1910-01-14
SIX REASONS OF
 GOVERNOR DONACHfY
Continued From Page One0

9'ih'fo II oiii
 Third If the attorneys for Ellis endcavored to prove he was slightly or temporary unbalanced, he is, by that very fact, a menace to society and should be confined. The incur ably insane may be confined in the asylum and society protected. A par tally sane man, or one who is liable to temporary insanity, should not be free from responsibility, because it is too easy to produce such condi- tion as a palliation for crime. Even insance people often have whole some fear of punishment, and may be deterred by a knowledge of results
 Fourth It is indeed hard to resist the plea of a wife or mother; but If such pleas are always to be reward ed with pardons, convictions would be of no avail. as every wife and mother would importune the execn- tive until prayers had been answered.
 Fifth. When many petitions, sign ed by good and influential citizens, are presented it is peculiarly hard t. refuse because it seems like setting his personal judgment up as supe- rior to that of many men of the high est character and ability. But it is necessary to note here carefully real distinction. Some people sign such petitions purely from consider ations of friendship without regard for the real merits of the case. Many others are induced to sign because of kind instinct. Many more sign be- cause it is easier for them to sign the petition than to refuse, but they secretly hope that the petition will not be granted 1t should, however, be distinctly understood that peti- .ioners, as a rule, have not heard the evidence, nor have they had sufficient opportunity to judge as to the real merits of the case, nor are they un- der oath or official obligation, while lllt SOtGi HUI IlONSSSi iSeeoS eo PAS,~SN a friend, or however kind-hearted he may be, is under the most solemn oath to administer the laws and eX- ecute his official acts with justice and with regard to the interests of the whole people. If pardons are to be granted only when sought by the many, and the influential, 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. 1T pardons are freely granted, under great pressure, then more and more the pressure will be used, and the verdict of honest jurors, and decl- sions 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. How ever great the provocation, our civ iIization is threatened whenever the individual takes the responsibility ol vengeance into his own hands. Hu' man life in America is too cheap, Il is said. Reliable statistics, as given by recent magazine writer, shows that during the last 2S years, almost as many homicides have been com mitted as the whole number klliee and dead from wounds in both ar mics in the war between the states We all know that the taking of hu man life has been too lightly conslo cred in Arkansas. Nothing adds tt the disturbance and unrest of law abiding localities so much as tht killing of a human being. This dis tress is accelerated to a greater eX tent when those who do the killing escape unpunished. Human happiness and the prosperity of the communlt! are alike affected.
 Gave His Victim No Chance.
 Then, however great the provoca tion, however justifiable Ellis migh have been in resenting injury to him self or those dependent upon him. II this case, whether temporarily insane or blinded by ungovernable passion or deliberately seeking revenge, h'
 shot down, without warning, an'
 without bodily danger to himself Il the sacred temple of justice itself' man, who, even if he deserved death was entitled to the protection Of tn
 court, and was relying upon it. l
 such deeds go unpunished. who cal afford to lay aside his arms and mee his adversary even in the courts
 justice? Under the old-fashiored so called Code of Honor,' now har oily under civilizsticn's hsn mon
 mortal enemy had at 'oHet t'o chanc of killing his afverTar" 9e1 tai