The Paducah evening sun., 1910-08-27

barrister shot a hole through the
supreme court bench when a
thoughtless justice reached back for
his bandana handkerchief.
Confessedly we're we on jury
to try a girl for murder, who had
been betrayed by her victim. under
circumstances that awakened pity
for one and disgust for the other, we
would. like all other jurors, be gov
erned as much by sentiment as by
the strict Interpretation of the law;
but we would not advise all girls.
who. having been lured into paths
of sin. grew tired of their bondage,
to shoot their paramours. There
are other avenues OF escape, and we
would not hold out to the silly Great
ures the hope that by one pull of
the trigger they could blot out the
past and start life anew. They can
not; but must toll back up the
rugged steep the downward way of
which they found so alluring. One
determined to make amends for a
life of sin can do II. without starting
OF with murder. and 1t is evil in
itself to assure one, who has sinned
for the sake of luxury. that repent
ance and the virtuous life will attain
the same rewards OF luxury. There
be some, who repent only when they
find that the consequence of their
sin is not all that they ex-
pected. and such turn their course
in further pursuit of the same end.
II is not sympathy. either, with the
victim of these and other avenging
crimes that makes us advocate due
process of law. Could venge- 4
ance restore conditions as they were
before the wrong was done, then We
would say let vengeance be swift
and sure. But since the wrong re- 4
mains a wrong and the vengeance
becomes a double wrong with all
Is sure consequences, neither party
lor society is in any way better OF
md all are in a worse predicament /.
han before, the law having been f.
and justice brought into
'ontempt, We can fined no iustifica- :
ion anywhere for personal retribu-
ion. II
A crime has been committed. II
'estitution can be made. let il be
made; otherwise why mock our !
elves in an effort to make an injury
o the perpetrator compensate for
he injury he has done his victim?
IAN We reform the wrong-d Let
hat be done that he may become a
rood member OF societp. Do the in I
erests Of society demand that he be
)ut out of the way? Let that be
lone in an orderly manner and with /
iispatch. II the law is wrong.
'emedy the law; II its enforcement |
s lax, learn why and see that 1t is !
II the machinery of justice
Is inefficient, improve II.
Bvery unlawful act of violence:
every interference with the course OF
justice is an admission OF the in
OF our government and our
own incompetency. II were better
that one crime go unrebuked and
that the legal protection of society
be perfected. than that the particular
wrong be punished and society left
still unprotected Mob violence and
personal redress do not discourage
the commission OF acts they avenge:
they only indicate the inability OF
he law to protect the innocent and
20 curb the passions of mob. and
when public sentiment is
iivided over the merits of an offense,
is to prevent bloody en-
counter between opposing factions
and civil war All illegal forms of
redress for personal wrongs must be |
hike condemned in practice, and. |
whether small or great. notorious or
)etty, they are by nature subversive
o good order and a menace to civil-
zation Itself.
We are but men of like passions
With the editor Of the Picayune; but
We reserve our emotions for specific
'ccasions, feeling sure from exper-
enee that they will always respond
o the demands Of the hour. We
our tears of sympathy for
Jury service to fall like the dews OF
heaven and wash away the guilt of
overburdened womanhood; not 20
become a perennial stream for every
weary harlot TO bathe in.