The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-06-20
POLITICAL ASSASSINATION.
Tho Doctrine and Principie OF Oliver Crom-
well. Bercgowski and Wilkes Booth.
From tha Inndon Tiu,aa Iupa

Tho Doctrine and Principle Of Oliver Crom-
well. Beresowshi and Wilkes Bsoth.
From the London Times June 81
The crime which has cast gloom tho visit Of the
Gar 10 Paris exhibits all the features Of type unhap.
ply too familiar The details are few and simple, but
beng questioned, stated that he was native Of Vos
hyna, by name Beregowski, that he had from Bel
GUM two days before for the purpose Of assassnatng
the Gar and that he had no accompIices. There Is
nothing in the facts hitherto disclosed to make
doubt the truth cfbis last assertion Tho present has
personages but few have been distinctly traced, IKE
thai OF Orsin, TO conspiracy. II is generally some in
syenging the wrongs OF nation or nationality single
handed HIRE the would be assassin not only staed his
own life on his desperate enterprise but scarcely have
indulged any hope OF escape In case OF success He
must have deliberately resolved to execute the wild
justice OF patriotic revenge on grand historical scale
and then to bravo death. He cannot even have sup.
posed AZ 1t Is possible Wilkes Booth supposed that his
act would bring redress benefit Of any kind to his
Much has been said and written Of late on
the comparative enormty OF political assassination and
ordinary murder from an ethical point Of view. Such
comparisons appear TO us highly Improbable, not TO
say mischicvous Tried by any standard which 1t Is
possible for human justice Q apply, the offence Of This
guilt II is only by assuming the functions Of Prov-
dence and affecting to search heart of the criminal
that we arrive at any other conclusion Even then
adopt very arbitrary and Imperfect criterion
Of wickedness before we can draw distinction in favor
Of murder, S0%ss mn in Of aSS
s readiness 10 die after sa,iatlng the instinct
Of vengeance by any means peculiar to tyrannicde.
Most passions though selfish in their origin, overpower
selfregard when they become dominant and it is
mon enough for vulgar murderers to attempt suicide
afterwards The important question really Is whether it
is for the interest OF society to visit miscreants like
Beregowsl with the same copdign punishment and the
Same infamy miscreants like Palmer Mrs. Man.
Ming We reply, without hesitaon that lie not only
for the interest Of society," but essential to lis very
stence that political motives should not be admitted
In theory extenuang circumstances In OF
murder There is dbsolsy limit u such principle II
introduced The liability to be suddenly cut on by
the hand OF enthusiast, who has received per-
sona injury is already apprecabe set of to the at
fractions OF sovereignty Is not every who would
have undertaken the office Of President aftor the
der Of Mr. Lincoln, nor every ono who would care TO
retain the imperial throne at tho personal risk
the Emperor Napoleon But there another side TO
this consideration Reason leads expect and his
shows that violence begets violence and that fear
Ii the mother OF cruelty. All governments, whether
despOtic, ollgarchical democratic, will defend them
selves without scrupe against assassination and the
action which followed the murder Of Rossi at Rome, Is
but example of the irrcpnrabe evil which may thus
be wrought Even Cromwell declared that, although he
deested assassination and would be the 1rst TO
sanction It, yet ccsstM attempt made Mis-
fJc bv Of tie Kings party she would make
sassinaing Of and destroy e whote family" The
modern revolutionary party the continent sus-
pected not Of propogating al least OF toernng doc
trines this point which, II carried into practice
s0ould reduce Europe % Ae state Of 0n0vrhy Mer
ico There could not be opportune moment than
the present for the emphatic Reputation Of such doc
trnes by all who have any influence In their councils.