The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1881-12-09
erlrEaU's rRlaE


been the purpose of q portion Of the
press Of the country to ridioule the court
and defend the Judge. The "lonely
newspaper" in Oregon has almost daily
given characteristic paragraph of CEN
sure and ridicule of this trial. Now
comes the culpable Beecher and for a
thanksgiving sermon says the trial Of
Guiteau looks like fight between an
"imteCls Judge and vagrant fool"
From such men the public, whom they
pretend to instruct in essential secular
matters, can expect nothing worthy Of
respect. The course pursued by such
editors or clergy is as lawlcss Us
that which prompted the william Gaiteau
to do the damning deed. If the reader
win look at the personal make up
of the editors who are endeavoring to
create the impression that the trial is a
farce, and Judge Cox is no better than
an accomplice,h he will tind their charac-
ter no better than that of BeeCher If rs
good. And it is time that tho Beecher
clergy and the brsod of conceited out
laws in the editorial chair should HE
to that haven of contempt to which
they are surely going. 1t is relief to
realize that they do the thinking of nc
intelligent person. While it is true
that Guiteau murdered President Gar
tisld in cold blood and with premedita.
zion, 1t Is nevetherless true that If he il
tried at ell he is entitled to fair trial
under the law. The killing is admitted
by the defence. If this was all then
Judge Cox could do no more than tc
sentence the culprit. If he attempted
20 do more than this the censure W.
speak Of would be just. But the Law
gives ths criminal the benefit Of ~
many dsfences as he may have. one
and the only ono in this case is insanity
And all the machinery of the law Is pul
in motion to make it effective Learned
counse, were written TO alloveT the land
to assist in the defence and every lead
/ ing man knew that this defence was
one that could be made if the defence
desired 20 make it. In presenting the
defence to the Court tbe past history
of the defendant is reviewed His let
ters, books and papers are examined
His conduct is given and he himself i
daily before the jury who have the right
to see the prisoner, hear him talk, and
talk with him. They are to determine
the question of insanity by tue very
methods adopted by the law anil nc
other, and Judge Cox can no more pre-
vent il than bis accusers can be just
II Guiteau turns the Court into a beei
garlen it is legitimate and IL would
show what all expect that tie insanity J
Is real or feigned of which feature the
jurors are the judges. IL is said that
GuiteAu's counsel made = mistake in
putting him on the stand. And for
Guiteau it may be true. But the civil
lied world does not look at this act as
q mistake. Had Guitean been silenced
and kept from the stand public opinion
would not have been sure of his sanity
Il hung for the murder. Now that the
prisoner has bal an indulgent triAl, and
been permitted to exhibit himself daily
before the jury and his sayings or doings
psbliGhed to the jury of the wcrid, we
as part of that body are fully convine-
cd that Judge Cox has been the means
Of relieving many minds of doubt by
his course on the bench, and that
through this trial Guiteau has convinc-
ed US that the murder was premcditat-
ed and that Guiteau was not only re-
sponsible for his act on the second day
of July when be murdered James A.
but was equally 80 when he
conceived the idea days before and
sneakingly and wickediy followed up
khis determination TO kill the President.
Guiteau has lived life of fraud
and deceit, but not one of insanity. So
much for the "imbecile Judge and va
grant fool. " The very and only means
that could be used to convince the jury
o. world of Gniteau's guilt were permit
ted by Judge Cox to be used for which
such professional men as Beecher and
vicious writer's condemn him. The
public will weigh these thiugs,and like
that of the dog the day 'of these men
will come and go.
STAR RoUrRs.