University of Oregon monthly., March 01, 1908, Image 5

8
U N IV ER SITY OF OREGON MONTHLY
admitted that much of the fault for this condition is due to imper­
fections in the. laws themselves and to our' complicated machinery
of justice. But even when there is no direct obstacle to justice, the
AhiegAcan juryman is prone to let a foolish sentimentality break the
iron of his will and the inviolability of his oath. He waits to\sym-
pathize with the accused, secures pardon finally, and so undermines
the moral forces' of the,.state.
Ü . < Hpman life is fast becoming a cheap and worthless thing: Too
often can a murderer snecéssîully plead the unwritten law, or in­
sanity, appealing to the sympathies of the public heart. In Oregon
last year there were fifty-six homicides, and from seventeen cases
already tried for murder, but three Convictions. Indeed human
life has become a trifle and law a puerile thing. Contempt "for law
and immunity from punishment loosen the bonds of unity between
man and man, between man and the, state, so that gradually men
lose faith in their government.
The spirit of the mob is abroad. What true iAmerican fails
to vieiy with grief and horror the revelations in the Steünenberg
trial | That such things pan be in this land of freedom is almost
beyond belief. William Haywood was acquitted of the chargés,
.brought against him, justly,,let us hope. Yet in the eyes-, of law-
abiding citizens he stands convicted of treason to the principles of
his country, not by,any evidence brought out in the trial, but by
Kg owp words when hé said that the reason for his acquittal was
because the unions, when united, ate invincible^ .Invincible ! Where
is the boasted freedom of Âmericja ? Is this the L an d éf Liberty
when the leaders,’ of the - sons of toil teach the spiritLob violence,
when they would have might to be the right and fling with sacrilig-
ous Jips-the name of Justice in the dust? . Here at o-ùr"doors the
ied-handed are at ,-work. Harvey Brown, in the full bloom of a
strong and clean manhood, at the very/threshold of his" home was
blown into,„eternity.. Ô America ! where ,i^. your vaunted principle
.of Justice??,!^ this the. Land of Justice where, boldly stalking Across
her borders, comes the dread spectre, of anarchy?
. . Integrity of the nation requires that We have ,(cpmnion laws
and universal administration of those laws,*- Integrity oLcharacter
requires that a man Remand qf himself and his neighbor unflinch­
ing, uncompromising justice. Is there, then, in the development of
character, or in the life of a nation, no place, no room for Lhe ad­
ministration of mercy? ’'A thousand times, yes, for true mercy, but
for mercy untempered by justice, never. “The quality of mercy'is