New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-05-12
JUSTICE AND HUMANITY.

' --M JUSTICE AND HUMANITY.
The New York Sun says: ..,s,,
1e Il fearful responsf6ility d6lfb6f.tely
TO take the life Of human being Who ls
xhoNr within our 5p!f. No m1ete 'how
bad that life has been, to take it away may
we'll inspire 10 with awe and with horror.
This observation, applied to some Or
binary murderer. in New Yosk, II tue
under all circumstances. Every human
being has the right Of existence, of an
impartial trial and of just judgment.
We have been astonished at the tone OF
cold frivolity with which the White
League press of Louisiana has treated the
attempted assassination of Mr.. Twitcheu.
It is denied that the deed was committed
by Democratic order. 1t has been lntl-
mated that it was an effect. of Republican
jealousy. Whether it resulted from the
one cause or the other, it would seem that
common sympathy for the unarmed VIC
tim, common respect for civilized opinion,
a prudent regard for the political reputa-
ton of the State, would have suggested
some expression of regret for an act ande-
fensible under the code Of honor or OF
law. Even the Picayune, under diTec'
ton tender and sensitive to human SUI
fering, allows itself to treat this great
crime almost jocularly. It said, some
days since .,l
Il is pleasant also to know that the
wounded man has lost only ono arm.
The Picayune seems incredulous that
the Republican Besn, charged, upon re-
port, with the murder, is guiltless, al
though Senator Twitchell denies having
made any charge against him. Here Is
the Incredibly: -.
Bean, the alleged murderer, was seen in
the city yesterday, but this fact u not suf-
ficient 10 prove an abb, as four days have
elapsed since the shooting took place, 70
enable him to reach the city.
Referring to the letter which commu-
nieated certain news of the assassinatieo,
the Picaysne says:
The lettev also contained the information
that Twitchell feared for the safety OF the
friends who were attending him in bis III
ness, and expressed the dread that they
would be murdered. Alas! poor friends!
This jocular incredulity does not set
we'll upon an independent representative
of our social sentiment The reicence
Of man who twas shot In the neck and
leg, and received two bullets in the right
arm and one in the left, necessitating the
amputation OF the latter" and who suffers
from the pleasantly of losing ''only ore
arm," is, we think, natural enough.
The latest testimony is that the sharp
shooter said in the presence Of Mrs. Mer-
riu that he chad sworn to kill him
(TwitchelD, and he would" The danger
of the 'poor friends" may not be SO
ridiculous as the Picay.ne thinks. Within
a couple of weeks man, wounded and in
hospital, has been shot by six masked men
without pretense Of political motive.
What, then, rendered absurd that either
Mr.. Twitchell, his attendant surgeon or
his ''poor friends" should apprehend the
pledged vengeance of the assassin
Whether the attempt was or was not polit-
ical, the mode of private vengeance which
prevails in that quarter is SO indiscrimi-
nate that we should think even the most
radical White Leaguers would join in pre-
venting possible act of violence which
would bring additional discredit upon the
State. We should by no means pronounce
Senator Twitchell tout of danger" if he
shall have been cured of his wounds, and
should deem it but an act Of humanity,
and even Of party prudence If the
White Leaguers themselves should guard
the wounded man until his recovery, and
then aid him to get to some place of per-
sonal safety. Our quotations show thai
the White Leaguers of Louisiana thinl
that that no matter who kills Republi
can representative or officer, or for wha'
cause, he may have been killed, as in thu
case of Pierson, society sustains no loss
1t is becoming evident that the American
public look. with horror and disgust upol
such sentiment and regard it as an in
stinctive and irrepressible development o
Coushatta Democracy. Justice and hu
mainly are in our belief duties which VI
! all owe to society and to civilization. Tn
coolest dictate of party advantage SHOULD
repress all indecorous illusions to human
suffering as legitimate fruit of politica
! opiniOn.