The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1911-04-25
Politics and Prejudice Against HUI
manity.
The Messenger.

The Messenger.
# the newspaper critics Of Gov.
Blease for the manner in which he
has used the pardon-parole power OF
MS position would take the pains to
examine into the reasons and the
character of the petitions going to the
governor in these matters with facts
and conditions set forth, criticisms
would be of a different character.
For example a parole was given
man from Marion county. The petit
ton of this man had on it the sena-
tors and members of the house from
three counties, the main portion of the
officials of the three counties, and
quite a number of bankers, business
men, and prominent citizens Of these
-t&ree counties, Marlboro, Marion and
Dillon with an affidavit from the pro-
secutor that she was to b.ame in the
matter.
The editor of the Messenger TOOK
the time, the trouble and the expense
to investigate some Of these tnlngs
and he found that in the main what
has been done in pardons and paroles
has been done in accord with the
civic Righteousness, justice and needs
of civil government. 1t was an out
rage upon justice and fair govern
ment for the predecessor of the pres
ent governor to allow petition TO-
remain two years ir his Office signed
bv the solicitor, judge, trial jury, and
largely the citizenship of the county,
asking for the pardon OF man con-
victed by mistake as stated OF the
crime charged, unacted upon. human
nature is frail, weak and full OF mis-
takes and when the court officials
find themselves in error and present
these errors to the governor, justice
demands action and not two years
pigeon-holing of such petitions. Gov
ernor Blease did that which Governor
Ansel ought to have done two years
before. pardoned the man in this case.
Again when a community joins almost
unanimously in asking the release OF
man in prison the governor can we'll
afford to send back to that community
the man asked for. No man has
right to sign petition for the paroon
or the parole of a man in. prison un-
less he means what the petition says
to the pardoning power.
A very pathetic case went up to !he
governor a few days ago. In the heat
of passion of the moment a mana
common laborer-violated the law,
was convicted and sent to the penf-
tentiary. This man left a wife ana
two children, helpless and without MS
wages, starving. The community that
sent the man to the penitentiary did
not care for the wife and babies.
Friends paid her way to Columbia. !
She went to the governor with one
babe in her arms and the other harg-
ing to her skirts. begging for breao
something to eat mama. The gov
ernor placed a half co!!a- IN the
hands of the begging ard starving
child, Mamma! Mamma! Money:
Something to eat, cr,ed the hungry !
child. We can now get something 10
eat. A quarter was placed in :h7 hano
of the child in the mothers arms. 1t
cried money, Mamma: brea3, bread
Governor Blease sent for The IN sbanG,
naroled him and let him 60 to sup
mort a starving wife and Children
Was this humanity or the work OF
beartless man? The man paroled
was not mean man as so said, but
poor and helpless.
Governor Blease was right. Inc
community which did not support the
HELPLESS wife, mother and children OF
the unfortunate poor man is more
rc1ch more censurable than Governor
Blease. Instead Of condemnation IN
these matters Governor Blease deser-
7as the commentator Of all beneVol-
ent Christian people for this judlclous
exercise of his power as governor or
South Carolina. The cold, calouseo'
corscienceless dollar may bring an
sver for such clemency, but never
from the best of human beings, the
mothers of the grand old State OF ,
South Carolina.
Sickly sentimentality never redeem
man nor made men and women out or
the fallen, sinful mankind. We say
boldly that Governor Blease was right
in paroling these parties.