Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1859-03-08

cations Of the spirit of the press point in the
same direction. In our paradise Of snobs, too
true, it is ell but impossible to bring a ''gen-
tleman" to trial for anything he may do. and
we can scarcely look for such miracle of jus
tlce as the punishment of Mr.. Sickles, under
the circumstances. But We do hope that the
public opinion and press of the country will
not this time be debauched sympathetically in
the orgies of Revenge, and made to bow before
that bloody idol. In the name of Christianity,
we owe protest against the current sympathy
with men of blood. We must not uphold them
by the fantest extenuation, in any circum
stances Mr.. Sickles has gratifed his passions,
but he has executed no justice, even though it
had been his province to do it. in thus punish
ing one party TO a mutual crime. The lame
and impOtent inequality Of human severity in
such case deprives it Of even the lurid judi
cial subiimity which imposes on the Judgment
of mankind and leaves it a base indulgence of
selfish, brutal rage. - Cursed be their anger,
for il was fierce; and their wrath, for it was
crucl''
GFrom The Independent (Congregationalist)
Similar occasions to that which brought
about the sudden and bloody death of Key, do
undoubtedly not unfrequently arise; and though
in the large majority of cases those who are
specially touched by these. for the sake of
all the interests involved, of family, reputa-
tiOn, pride, the future, seek other more Silent
forms of redress, there will be cases when
only the utter and instant destruction of the life
Of the betrayer will satisfy the furious thirst
for vengeance. We do not justify Mr.. Sickles
in his act. 1t was simply summary, san
Sulnary, relentless street-murder, committed,
of course, under the greatest possible provoca-
ton He has made himself obnoxious to the
laws of the country, to the Judgment of his
colntrymen, to the searching and terrific in
QUESTION of his conscience, which can never
shake off or really wipe out this stain of blood;
above all, to God, whose Judgment draws higher
every hour. If his own life has BEEN as Is
freely intimated, an impure one, this should
and will weigh heavily against him in the opin-
ion and feeling Of all just men, whether it does
50 in courts or not. And the punishment that
comes from n ruined home. from blighted ca
reer, from the sense of being pilloried before
the eyes of the country as man whose wife
proved faithless to him-this he never can es-
cape. We see not that he can hope ever to out
live it, and We cannot indeed wish that he
should.
From the Evangelist (Presbyterian)l
When such horrid tragedies occur, il is not
merely the law which is at fault, but society is
at fault These foul blotehes on the face of So
clety show that there is rottcnness beneath
The laws of honor are utterly impotent to re-
strain the passions of men. Probably many
who will applaud this homicide are conscious
in their own souls that they arc guilty of the
very outrage for which they Justify another in
taking human life. They justify this swift re-
yenge, when they have no principle of religion
and no sense of honor to restrain them from in
ficting the same wrong on their ncishbor or
their dearest friend r.
From the Baltimore Exchanged
The Exchange notices, in terms of reprehen-
sion. the spirit of unfairness and strong per
sonal bias with which the accounts of the trag-
edy have been transmitted by the agents of the
associated press or the professional letter
writer's at the seat of government, and says in
this connection: -----------.---..-.. ..-.-.-