Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1872-01-17
mn uuARacrER OF nsK.


TIE CHARACTER OF FISK.
Tia Eihc3nnati Enquirer thus sums
mp the virtues and vices of, the late
Jim Fisk:
jim Fisk, jun, died Sunday morn
ing at fo.55, from the effect Of the
pistol-ball fred into his abdomen on
the previous evening by Edward S.
Stokes. There was little hope for
him from the first, for nothing is
better settled than that shots of that
class prove fatal. A wound of that
kind may nearly always be set down
as mortal. We r. not surprised to
learn that much sympathy is felt in
New York for the unfortunate Prince
of Erie. The fate which he met was
not al unexpected one, nor n it be
said to be wholly u~ndeserved, but his
killing was brutal and cowardly, and
his assassin should be treated as a
heinous murderer. Fisk was a bad
mana wicked and dangerous man
in society. He lived by the motto
that every man had his price. and that
virtue was a misnomer. BY his
shrewdness and tact, and through
INSCRIPTIONS means, lie massed
wealth only to crafty his depraved
taste aud desires. lie was a IMAM of
indomitable energy will and magnet
ism. but was as devoid Of principle
as the verisst Cagliostro or Captain
Kidd. His weakness and vanity
distinguished him, and through these
he was lurcd to his fate. Fisk
stamped his individuality upon the
city of New York, and added much
to its advancement. lie gave the
city commodious ferries, comfort in
railroad trains, a magnificent regi-
ment of holiday soldiers, and the
finest line of steamers that ever
foatcd. He was kind to those who
came in contact with him, and many
noble and generous actions ere to be
set down to his credit. His impulses
were in many respects good, but for
all that he was the most dangerous
man that New York City held. His
example was demoralizing and his
career a stigma upon the city. Other
men occupying prominent positions
in New York to-day may be worse
Other men might have gone further
with Fisk's opportunities. But that
is III justification. In addition 10
being a party to the most fragrant
and outrageous :act of thievcry eve
known and countenanced in the fl
nancial world, he..essaycd to array
himself against society. He broke
down every barrier, and scorned
every moral obligation. He did that
openly and aboveboard, which other
men, showing the common weakness,
did secretly and under cover He
paraded his infamy publicly, and
detied moral sentiment. He gloried
in his RIGHTEOUSNESS, and eve felt
prouder than when shocking the
good of the community with his i'm
moral practices, or exciting the envy
of the vile. 1t is no charity to such
men 10 say that the grave should hide
their errors and their crimes. 1t is
a mawkish sentimentality which we
do not approve of. Mems lives and
acts belong to the world, and it is the
estimation III which they are to be
held when dead that must create the
incentive to noble and worthy life.
1t was meant that Fisk should die as
he did, and the example must not be
boot. Men wiru would emulate him
must be taught that there is a retribu-
tive justice and a compensation for t
misspent life which cannot be evaded.
1t generally III the shape that
it has come to Fisk.
For this lnaII Stokes there can be
no word of %palliation. He was Il vile
oh nv ho as q" q
victim. lie looked upon Fisk as his
natural rival among the the demi-
monde of the metropolis, and he long
ago sought to disgrace him. There
can be 10 doubt but that he entered
into a conspiracy with this notorious
woman, Mansfield, to black-mail
Fisk, and hold him up to ridiculc.
The scheme not working satisfactory
ly, Stokes nerved himself up to a
fearful pitch, and presuming upon
the existing popular indignation the
men who have stolen public treasure
aud dcbauched Courts in that city,
murdered him in the bascst and most
%cuwardly OF manners. To this act he
was probably instlgated by the cor
rupt and designing woman whose
profession has been that ofentrapping
vain, weak men. There can be no
case Of emotional insanity urged in
this instance. There is nothing but
the love ola prostitute involved.
Stokes was a murderer, and his life
should be forfeited. Justice demands
his blood, and the citizens OF New
York should see that in this instance
justice is vindicated. AS for the
woman who created and laid the
foundation for the tragic act, we have
NO doubt but that she can be held rs
an accessory before the fact.