Daily Los Angeles herald., 1881-10-28

We are inclined to think that no
man who dispassionately ponders
upon Guiteau's published state
ment can withhold his belief that
the man is insane. He belongs
to an order of fanatics of whom
Jshn Brown, of Ossawatomie, and
Lord George Gordon, Of the anti
Catholic riots OF the early part of
the last century, are leading exem-
plars. Insanity is by no means
equivalent to idiotcy. In fact, it
has nothing In common with mere
foolery. 1t is often the unhappy
extension - the exaggeration-of
perfectly logical aptitudes. Old
King Lear, In the portraiture CIV
en- of him by Shakespeare, and
Hamlet, in another equally power
full play by the divine poet, are
fine examples of genuine insanity.
Insanity may eften be the distor-
ton arising from the strain put
upon naturally fine intellectual
capacities. In the mood of the
nineteenth century, most of the
fine fanatics of all ages would be
looked upon as insane men. Gui-
tsau is unquestionably fanatic.
BY temperament cowardly and
shrinking, he was wrought up, by a
perverse impulse, to do a deed of
murder abhorrent to his natural
temperament. The extreme cum
ming and pertlnacity with which,
oil through his long narrative,
which would take up three solid
columns Of agate of an ordinary
newspaper, he invariably alludes
to his ''removal" of the President
In obedience to patriotic inspira-
tion, shows the fanatic in every
line. We think his brother-in-law
and counsel, Scoville, had right
to apply, as he has done, to emil
Dent counsel and to medical spe-
cialists in insanity in defence of
bis client. At the same time, the
disinclination of eminent lawyers
and physicians to identify them
selves with the case, while perfect
~ natural, is not pitched in the
highest key of professional ethics
or humanity. Guiteau is not only
q despicable wretch, to whom the
sympsthies of men are closed, but
he is an impecunious fellow as
we'll. AS to the results OF his trial
there can be but little doubt that
he will be convicted and hanged,
whether he is insane or not. There
is q good deal Of human nature in
jurles, and the average man who
sits In the box will be apt to con-
denim the prisoner on general prin.
ciples. Guiteau will be hanged
first through the natural indigna-
ton Of jurymen at his crime, and
tried afterwards, in the medical
and psychological works of men
who will hereafter calmly con-
slider all phases of his case as an in
teresting human phenomenon.
There is this consolation about the
whole matter-while his execu-
tion will probably be an invasion
of the common and other laws as
they stand to-day, nevertheless
substantial justice will be accom-
plished. We have always been of
the opinion that insane men who
are hemicidslIy inclined should be
commended to old Charon's ferry.
They are far better in the land of
the "shades." The difference be-
tween q sane and insane man who
imbrues his hand in blood is that
the former will only do 1t either
on gross provocation or when he
sees a prospect Of great gain.
The bloodiest minded sane
man who ever lived is cautious
about killing any one. He knows
the Inconvenience to himself of
every act of violence. He recog-
nizes the fact that he may be
hanged or may go to the peniten-
tiary; and he is fully conscious of
the public sentiment which slowly
and surely builds wall Of exclu-
sion around him, even should he
escape the penalties of the law.
The most headstrong and ruthless
man that ever lived IL open to
these arguments, and they form a
powerful restraint, which may
make him good citizen even
after his career has been stained
by murder and crime. But where
10 the law Of conscience or pru.
deDce which will control an insane
man with homicidal impulse In
his bosom? He is simply in the
exact condition of the swart savage
OF Africa, who has made up his
mind to run o muck. His idea lie
to kill, and It matters little to him
whom he kills. In the case of
ouiteau, accidental circumstances
gave direction to his uncontrolla-
able impulse. 1t 10 only necessary
to study the face Of this miscreant
to zee that he was alien to oil hui
name Impulses. While, at the
common law, be ought TO be &C.
quilted for insanIty, it is rather
pleasant than otherwise to know
that . public sentiment has been
u IL