Evening journal., 1911-04-15
SATURDAY. APR. is 1911
THE PARDON OF GOODWIN.

r OLLOWiNG the testimony OF several physi-
j. clans as to his physics condition the Board
of Pardors granted pardon to John Goodwin who
has served year in the Workhouse for the at
tempted bribery Of voter
There seems to be some doubt whether the par
don restores citizenship TO Goodwin. We don't
know what the intention of the majority OF the
Board was in that instance, but citizenship should
not have been restored 10 Goodwin or 10 any other
person convicted Of violating the election laws.
Instead Of being disfranchsed for ten years vio-
lators Of the election laws should be DISTINGUISHED
for twenty years al least and all who sell their
votes should be disfranchsed for similar time
as we'll as those who purchase votes
AS The Journal said, had Goodwin been given out
Of door employment, ii is probable that he would
not have contracted disease. II is said that as
a rule it is impossible for the prisoners at the
Workhouse to be given out of door work. Conhne-
ment such as prisoners undergo must necessarily
he detrimental to their health, especially IL the
prisoners are men who before their confinement
were accustomed to leading an active out of door
life
This is unfortunate not only in the case Of God
win but in other instances where close confinement
is the rule. Perhaps it is a condition that cannot
he remedied although il the prisoners at the
Worl.!ouse labored upon the roads, as some think
they should do, the chances are that they would
be kept in much better physical condition.
II is highly probable that the feeling against God
win displayed by some persons who have opposed
any clemency being shown towards him due
to acts other than that for which he was convicted
He was reputed 10 have been concerned in other
bad things that happened in politics although he
was never brought TO trial for any of them Many
thought that he was a man to be put out of
the way. Only upon this theory can the animus
displayed against Goodwin he explained.
The career of John Goodwin should carry
home a striking and impressive lesson to 'other
n1c IN II cho =.
douhtedly has taught John Goodwin that a man
who trifes with the election laws of this State does
so AZ his own peril. Nine men through force Of
habit and the failure TO grasp the fact that vioa
ing the election laws is a serious crime may com
nit crimes and escape punishment but the tenth
man may be caught and made to suffer as Goodwin
has suffered At least they may have to undergo
the humiliation Of arrest and trial
The election laws have been violated time and
again in Delaware and the offence has been held
as light Stories from various other parts of the
country have shown that in many regions politics
is corrupt more ia some instances than have
been charged against Delaware But political
corruption is of the things that the public is
setting its face against The old days Of political
corruption must pass away They cannot last and
the integrity Of our institutions he maintained
This fact must soon he realized fully in Delaware
as il is being realized in other States
The punishment and subsequent pardon Of God
" NV '~'oS 'N considered a lallure OF JUS
tice Justice has marked him He has been punish-
ed and The Journal trusts that his experience will
sink into the hearts of all political workers who
may he foolishy tempted 10 stab the election laws
OF this State in the belief that they can escape the
consequences Of their offences
But although the law in instances can get its
grip upon political offenders, the entire wiping
out of corrupt practices in elections can he brought
about only when the public realizes fully and
completely that election offences are as heinous
as any other kind Of Offences more heinous in
fact, because they undermine the very foundation
upon which rest the security and perpetuity Of our
American institutions