Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-09-24
auIrEAu NJ MASON.

Ben. BUTLER has given a very fair and
lust parallel between the respective
crimes oil GUIrEAU, who shot the Presi'
dent, and MASON, who shot at GUlTEAu.
BEN. is not often conservative nor al
WAYS consistent, but is always smart,
and his clearly defined view OF the MA
BON case will help the average man in
this time OF passion to qualify his iudg.
ment by better reasons than his preIu-
dices or indignation. There are the
safety and good name OF the American
people as much involved in an adequa' e
punishment Of Mason as Of GUITEAU and
it is going to be one OF the severest tests
OF American manhood to insure a fair
trial aud exact justice to both.
In an interview with a reporter Gen.
BUTLER said:
II would like TO offer a word or two
upon the crime of Sergeant Mason, as to
which some exceedingly loose and dan
gerous comment met my eye in some OF
the newspapers. l look upon the guilt
OF Mason, If he is sane, as exactly equal
to Guitesu, if he is sane. In our gov
eminent the life of each individual is as
sacred as the life Of any other, and is as
valuable in the eye Of the law. Thee
il no more hanging to be done for the
killing Of n man than Tor another.
Guiteau contemplated taking the life
OF the President for days:
that made the act wilful
murder. Mason contemplated for days
taking the life OF Guiteau; that made his
act, in intent, wilful murder also. Gui-
teau shot an unnamed man, who was
not prepared to defend himself, and took
the risk, in addition to the legal punish
ment, of being torn to pieces by the
mob. Mason shot an unarmed man
who could not defend himself, but took
no such risk as Guiteau Each was, in
intent. the most das.ardly murder, be-
cause neither is yet completed, and we
may hope that neither will be. Both
men undertook to execute what they
believed might be a popular judgment
upon each victim, and both had the
same m~Otive-desire for notoriety.
There tine parallel ceases, in favor Of
Guiteau. Mason vas the chosen guard
OF Guiteau, placed there to see that no.
body harmed him, including himself. 1t
was his sworn duty as an officer Of the
United States army 10 do-this. He was
one OF the keepers OF Guiteau, with a
trust to keep him safely. He violated
that trust. He owed all the duty TO
Guiteau that Guiteau owed to the Pres
ident, and the farther duty that he was
to save Guiteau from all harm. LIT us
put this shooting OF Mason in another
light, and its enormity will at once be
seen. Suppose sheriff having the cui-
tody OF q prisoner who desired to escape
the disgrace OF a public execution, and
TO deprive the public of such an exam
pie, should he briSed by the prisoner to
cheat the gailows and defraud the public
OF its rights, by poisoning %him-would
such an act be amy different from that OF
MasonP The bribe in the n case might.
be gold, and in the other love OF motor
iety, and OF the commentator which
some minimizing persons are Civ
ing to him, even in the public press.
But the act Of Mason has a wider and
deeper significance. The last resort OF
all governments is to the army; the
army is the last hope of conservatism, Of
public order and public peace. All his
tory teaches us that governments have
been overturned by srmies-how? Be-
cause the soldier TUNED the arms that
were furnished him by the
upon the government itself. If one
soldier can DO that and be applaudtd,
why not any number, or all OF them?
The last hope vi law. and ;ne executi' n
Of law only, is gone when the soldiers
II the United States army take the exc
cution OF the law in their own hands, in
violation of their duty and their oaths.
Let US hope that the officers OF the army,
when the case before them, will
see to it by their action that this most
dImning stain upon the fair es%cutcheOn
Of the army is blotted ont by condien
punishment of the offender"