influenceontheonehandasagainstdemagogyandmobruleontheother。Iunderstandperfectlythatsuchanattitudeofmoderationisapttobemisunderstoodwhenpassionsaregreatlyexcitedandwhenvictoryisapttorestwiththeextremistsononesideortheother；yetIthinkitisinthelongruntheonlywiseattitude……Iappreciateabsolutely[whatMr。Platthadsaid]thatanyapplauseIgetwillbetooevanescentforamoment’sconsideration。Iappreciateabsolutelythatthepeoplewhonowloudlyapproveofmyactioninthefranchisetaxbillwillforgetallaboutitinafortnight，andthat，ontheotherhand，theverypowerfulinterestsadverselyaffectedwillalwaysrememberit……[Theleaders]urgeduponmethatIpersonallycouldnotaffordtotakethisaction，forundernocircumstancescouldIeveragainbenominatedforanypublicoffice，asnocorporationwouldsubscribetoacampaignfundifIwasontheticket，andthattheywouldsubscribemostheavilytobeatme；andwhenIaskedifthisweretrueofRepublicancorporations，thecynicalanswerwasmadethatthecorporationsthatsubscribedmostheavilytothecampaignfundssubscribedimpartiallytobothpartyorganizations。Underallthesecircumstances，itseemedtometherewasnoalternativebuttodowhatIcouldtosecurethepassageofthebill。”
Thesetwoletters，writteninthespringof1899，expressclearlytheviewsofthetwoelementsoftheRepublicanparty，whosehostilitygraduallygrewuntilitculminated，thirteenyearslater。In1912thepoliticalandfinancialforcesofwhichMr。Platthadoncebeenthespokesman，usurpedthecontrolofthepartymachineryanddroveoutofthepartythemenwhowereloyallyendeavoringtoapplytheprinciplesofthefoundersofthepartytotheneedsandissuesoftheirownday。
IhadmadeupmymindthatifIcouldgetashowintheLegislaturethebillwouldpass，becausethepeoplehadbecomeinterestedandtherepresentativeswouldscarcelydaretovotethewrongway。
Accordingly，onApril27，1899，IsentaspecialmessagetotheAssembly，certifyingthattheemergencydemandedtheimmediatepassageofthebill。Themachineleaderswerebitterlyangry，andtheSpeakeractuallytoreupthemessagewithoutreadingittotheAssembly。Thatnighttheywerebusytryingtoarrangesomedeviceforthedefeatofthebill——whichwasnotdifficult，asthesessionwasabouttoclose。
AtseventhenextmorningIwasinformedofwhathadoccurred。AteightIwasintheCapitolattheExecutivechamber，andsentinanotherspecialmessage，whichopenedasfollows：“IlearnthattheemergencymessagewhichIsentlasteveningtotheAssemblyonbehalfoftheFranchiseTaxBillhasnotbeenread。Ithereforesendherebyanothermessageonthesubject。IneednotimpressupontheAssemblytheneedofpassingthisbillatonce。”IsentthismessagetotheAssembly，bymysecretary，WilliamJ。Youngs，afterwardsUnitedStatesDistrictAttorneyofKings，withanintimationthatifthiswerenotpromptlyreadIshouldcomeupinpersonandreadit。Then，assooftenhappens，theoppositioncollapsedandthebillwentthroughbothhouseswitharush。IhadintheHousestanchfriends，suchasRegisPostandAlfordCooley，menofcharacterandcourage，whowouldhavefoughttoafinishhadtheneedarisen。
Mytroubleswerenotatanend，however。Thebillputthetaxationinthehandsofthelocalcountyboards，andastherailwayssometimespassedthroughseveraldifferentcounties，thiswasinadvisable。Itwastheendofthesession，andtheLegislatureadjourned。Thecorporationsaffected，throughvariouscounsel，andthedifferentpartyleadersofbothorganizations，urgedmenottosignthebill，layingespecialstressonthisfeature，andaskingthatIwaituntilthefollowingyear，whenagoodmeasurecouldbeputthroughwiththisobnoxiousfeaturestruckout。Ihadthirtydaysunderthelawinwhichtosignthebill。IfIdidnotsignitbytheendofthattimeitwouldnotbecomealaw。IansweredmypoliticalandcorporationfriendsbytellingthemthatIagreedwiththemthatthisfeaturewaswrong，butthatIwouldratherhavethebillwiththisfeaturethannothaveitatall；andthatIwasnotwillingtotrusttowhatmightbedoneayearlater。Therefore，Iexplained，IwouldreconvenetheLegislatureinspecialsession，andifthelegislatorschosetoamendthebillbyplacingthepoweroftaxationintheStateinsteadofinthecountyormunicipality，Iwouldbeglad；butthatiftheyfailedtoamendit，oramendeditimproperly，Iwouldsigntheoriginalbillandletitbecomelawasitwas。
WhentherepresentativesofMr。Plattandofthecorporationsaffectedfoundtheycoulddonobetter，theyassentedtothisproposition。
Effortsweretentativelymadetooutwitme，byinsertingamendmentsthatwouldnullifytheeffectofthelaw，orbywithdrawingthelawwhentheLegislatureconvened；whichwouldatoncehavedeprivedmeofthewhiphand。OnMay12IwroteSenatorPlatt，outliningtheamendmentsIdesired，andsaid：“OfcourseitmustbeunderstoodthatIwillsignthepresentbilliftheproposedbillcontainingthechangesoutlinedabovefailstopass。”OnMay18InotifiedtheSenateleader，JohnRaines，bytelegram：“LegislaturehasnopowertowithdrawtheFordbill。Ifattemptismadetodoso，Iwillsignthebillatonce。”Onthesameday，bytelegram，IwiredMr。Odellconcerningthebilltheleaderswerepreparing：“Someprovisionsofbillveryobjectionable。Iamatworkonbilltoshowyouto-morrow。
Thebillmustnotcontaingreaterchangesthanthoseoutlinedinmymessage。”Mywisheswereheeded，andwhenIhadreconvenedtheLegislatureitamendedthebillasIoutlinedinmymessage；andinitsamendedformthebillbecamelaw。
Therepromptlyfollowedsomethingwhichaffordedanindexofthegoodfaithofthecorporationsthathadbeenprotestingtome。Assoonasthechangeforwhichtheyhadbeggedwasinsertedinthelaw，andthelawwassigned，theyturnedroundandrefusedtopaythetaxes；andinthelawsuitthatfollowed，theyclaimedthatthelawwasunconstitutional，becauseitcontainedtheveryclausewhichtheyhadsoclamorouslydemanded。SenatorDavidB。Hillhadappearedbeforemeonbehalfofthecorporationstoargueforthechange；andhethenappearedbeforethecourtstomaketheargumentontheotherside。ThesuitwascarriedthroughtotheSupremeCourtoftheUnitedStates，whichdeclaredthelawconstitutionalduringthetimethatIwasPresident。
OneofthepainfuldutiesofthechiefexecutiveinStateslikeNewYork，aswellasintheNation，istherefusingofpardons。YetIcanimaginenothingmorenecessaryfromthestandpointofgoodcitizenshipthantheabilitytosteelone’sheartinthismatterofgrantingpardons。Thepressureisalwaysgreatestintwoclassesofcases：
first，thatwherecapitalpunishmentisinflicted；second，thatwherethemanisprominentsociallyandinthebusinessworld，andwhereinconsequencehiscrimeisapttohavebeenoneconcernedinsomewaywithfinance。
Asregardscapitalcases，thetroubleisthatemotionalmenandwomenalwaysseeonlytheindividualwhosefateisupatthemoment，andneitherhisvictimnorthemanymillionsofunknownindividualswhowouldinthelongrunbeharmedbywhattheyask。Moreover，almostanycriminal，howeverbrutal，hasusuallysomeperson，oftenapersonwhomhehasgreatlywronged，whowillpleadforhim。Ifthemotherisaliveshewillalwayscome，andshecannothelpfeelingthatthecaseinwhichsheissoconcernedispeculiar，thatinthiscaseapardonshouldbegranted。Itwasreallyheartrendingtohavetoseethekinsfolkandfriendsofmurdererswhowerecondemnedtodeath，andamongtheveryrareoccasionswhenanythinggovernmentalorofficialcausedmetolosesleepwerethetimeswhenIhadtolistentosomepoormothermakingapleaforacriminalsowicked，soutterlybrutalanddepraved，thatitwouldhavebeenacrimeonmyparttoremithispunishment。
Ontheotherhand，therewerecertaincrimeswhererequestsforleniencymerelymademeangry。Suchcrimeswere，forinstance，rape，orthecirculationofindecentliterature，oranythingconnectedwithwhatwouldnowbecalledthe“whiteslave“traffic，orwifemurder，orgrosscrueltytowomenandchildren，orseductionandabandonment，ortheactionofsomemaningettingagirlwhomhehadseducedtocommitabortion。Iamspeakingineachinstanceofcasesthatactuallycamebeforeme，eitherwhileIwasGovernororwhileIwasPresident。Inanastonishingnumberofthesecasesmenofhighstandingsignedpetitionsorwrotelettersaskingmetoshowleniencytothecriminal。
Intwoorthreeofthecases——onewheresomeyoungroughshadcommittedrapeonahelplessimmigrantgirl，andanotherinwhichaphysicianofwealthandhighstandinghadseducedagirlandtheninducedhertocommitabortion——Iratherlostmytemper，andwrotetotheindividualswhohadaskedforthepardon，sayingthatIextremelyregrettedthatitwasnotinmypowertoincreasethesentence。Ithenletthefactsbemadepublic，forIthoughtthatmypetitionersdeservedpubliccensure。WhethertheyreceivedthispubliccensureornotIdidnotknow，butthatmyactionmadethemveryangryIdoknow，andtheirangergavemerealsatisfaction。Thelistofthesepetitionerswasafairlylongone，andincludedtwoUnitedStatesSenators，aGovernorofaState，twojudges，aneditor，andsomeeminentlawyersandbusinessmen。
Intheclassofcaseswheretheoffensewasoneinvolvingthemisuseoflargesumsofmoneythereasonforthepressurewasdifferent。
CasesofthiskindmorefrequentlycamebeforemewhenIwasPresident，buttheyalsocamebeforemewhenIwasGovernor，chieflyinthecasesofcountytreasurerswhohadembezzledfunds。Abigbankpresident，arailwaymagnate，anofficialconnectedwithsomebigcorporation，oraGovernmentofficialinaresponsiblefiduciaryposition，necessarilybelongsamongthemenwhohavesucceededinlife。Thismeansthathisfamilyarelivingincomfort，andperhapsluxuryandrefinement，andthathissonsanddaughtershavebeenwelleducated。Insuchacasethemisdeedofthefathercomesasacrushingdisastertothewifeandchildren，andthepeopleofthecommunity，howeverbitteroriginallyagainsttheman，growtofeelthemostintensesympathyforthebowed-downwomenandchildrenwhosufferfortheman’sfault。Itisadreadfulthinginlifethatsomuchofatonementforwrong-doingisvicarious。Ifitwerepossibleinsuchacasetothinkonlyofthebanker’sorcountytreasurer’swifeandchildren，anymanwouldpardontheoffenderatonce。Unfortunately，itisnotrighttothinkonlyofthewomenandchildren。Theveryfactthatincasesofthisclassthereiscertaintobepressurefromhighsources，pressuresometimesbymenwhohavebeenbeneficially，eventhoughremotely，interestedintheman’scriminality，nolessthanpressurebecauseofhonestsympathywiththewifeandchildren，makesitnecessarythatthegoodpublicservantshall，nomatterhowdeephissympathyandregret，steelhisheartanddohisdutybyrefusingtoletthewrong-doerout。MyexperienceofthewayinwhichpardonsareoftengrantedisoneofthereasonswhyIdonotbelievethatlifeimprisonmentformurderandrapeisapropersubstituteforthedeathpenalty。Theaveragetermofso-calledlifeimprisonmentinthiscountryisonlyaboutfourteenyears。
OfcoursetherewerecaseswhereIeithercommutedsentencesorpardonedoffenderswithveryrealpleasure。Forinstance，whenPresident，IfrequentlycommutedsentencesforhorsestealingintheIndianTerritorybecausethepenaltyforstealingahorsewasdisproportionatetothepenaltyformanyothercrimes，andtheoffensewasusuallycommittedbysomeignorantyoungfellowwhofoundahalf-
wildhorse，andreallydidnotcommitanythinglikeasseriousanoffenseasthepenaltyindicated。Thejudgeswouldbeobligedtogivetheminimumpenalty，butwouldforwardmememorandastatingthatiftherehadbeenalesspenaltytheywouldhaveinflictedit，andI
wouldthencommutethesentencetothepenaltythusindicated。
InonecaseinNewYorkIpardonedoutrightamanconvictedofmurderintheseconddegree，andIdidthisontherecommendationofafriend，FatherDoyleofthePaulistFathers。IhadbecomeintimatewiththePaulistFatherswhileIwasPoliceCommissioner，andIhadgrowntofeelconfidenceintheirjudgment，forIhadfoundthattheyalwaystoldmeexactlywhatthefactswereaboutanyman，whetherhebelongedtotheirchurchornot。Inthiscasetheconvictedmanwasastronglybuilt，respectableoldIrishmanemployedasawatchmanaroundsomebigcattle-killingestablishments。Theyoungroughsoftheneighborhood，whichwasthenofaratherlawlesstype，usedtotrytodestroythepropertyofthecompanies。Inaconflictwithawatchmanamemberofoneofthegangswasslain。Thewatchmanwasacquitted，buttheneighborhoodwasmuchwroughtupovertheacquittal。Shortlyafterwards，agangofthesameroughsattackedanotherwatchman，theoldIrishmaninquestion，andfinally，tosavehisownlife，hewasobligedinself-defensetokilloneofhisassailants。Thefeelinginthecommunity，however，wasstronglyagainsthim，andsomeofthemenhighupinthecorporationbecamefrightenedandthoughtthatitwouldbebettertothrowoverthewatchman。Hewasconvicted。FatherDoylecametome，toldmethatheknewthemanwell，thathewasoneofthebestmembersofhischurch，admirableineveryway，thathehadsimplybeenforcedtofightforhislifewhileloyallydoinghisduty，andthattheconvictionrepresentedthetriumphofthetoughelementofthedistrictandtheabandonmentofthisman，bythosewhoshouldhavestoodbyhim，undertheinfluenceofanunworthyfear。Ilookedintothecase，cametotheconclusionthatFatherDoylewasright，andgavethemanafullpardonbeforehehadservedthirtydays。