Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-12-17
Sense VI. Speculation.

From the N. Y. Tribune.
All men still In the possession of their senses,
and not in danger of being tried for murder,
whatever may be their danger of being killed,
ought to be thankful to Dr. Fordyce Barker for
the admirable testimony which he gave in the
Guiteau case on Tuesday last. His evidence
came into the judicial chamber like a Whit of
fresh air into sick room. Not recently. at least,
has distinction SO clear and philosophical been
drawn between intellectual alteration and
that condition Of the mind in which conscience,
or whatever is left of it, yields to the tempta-
lions Of passion or of vanity and leaves man
to do that which is contrary to the eternal law
of God and the enacted law OF man. All the
answers of DR.. Barker were given with the pre-
cislOn of man who knew of what he was talk
ing; but we desire particularly to call attention
to one which he gave in response to an inter-
rOgatory of the court. 1t covers the whole prob
lem. The court inquired: sis it not fact that
in some Gnsane) patients there is very great
wckedness?" DR.. Barker, with a clearness and
accuracy which do him honor, responded: Yes.
Insane people may be very wicked. and are re-
sponsible for such wickedness as they can re-
strain themselves from doing. If they can find
motive for doing or not doing an act of wick
edness it shows that insanity has not destroyed
their power of will"
These are words which deserve to be perpetu-
ated in any future treatise Of medical jurspru-
dence. The same may be said Of Dr. Bankers
absurd and extravagant opinions" We ought
to be obliged to him for pointing out that where
there are no decisions there may be ''perverse-
ness Of the morals" Again. DR.. Barker cleared
away great deal of mystical nonsense when he
said: 81 do not think that there is such thing
as moral insanity. l have no faith in its
existence. Moral insanity is simply wicked
ness" And again: 9 Uncomfortable i'm
pulse may exist in perfectly sane
person, as the result of bad habits or passions ~
A.;1
hibitiOns of characters, in language, dress modes
of expression or conduct. different from the or
binary standard of the world, and are usually
the result of vanity or self-love." Finally and
best of all: There is no such disease known
to medical science as hereditary insanity. There
is undoubtedly hereditary tendency to insan-
ity. Because grandmother or grandfather has
been insane. it does not prove that descend
ant is liable to insanity" and a man ''cannOt
inherit tendency to insanity from his broth
ers or sisters or aunts or cousins"
We are Of opinion that the whole testimony of
DR.. Fordyce Barker, apart from its bearing upon
the case, will tend to further better order of
things in medical Jurisprudence. We do not re-
member medical expert who has 80 admirably,
in giving his testimony. pointed out these vital
distinctions between human depravity and in
tellectual alteration. 1t is a melancholy fact
that the plea of insanity, which has more than
once interferred in our courts to save perfectly
responsible murderer from the gallOws. might
have been just as successfully interpOsed to
rescue from the state prison thief, a fOrger, or
swindler From a certain point of view any
man who commits any crime is intellectually at
sea. If anything is we'll settled, it is that any
violation of the law is foolish; yet men, other
wise specially sharp, heedlessly tumble into
wrong-dOing, under the notion that they
will escape the penalty. So far they are
mentally wrong, but no more so than one who
permits himself to engage in wild money spec
ulation or even to publish foolish book. The
truth is, that insanity, under certain devel-
opments. might keep man out of Wall street
or prevent him from printing. Unquestonably
there comes time to some men when imme-
date responsibility ceases, and they are left at
the mercy OF brain which has abdicated its
sovereignty. 1t is an unpleasant reflection that
for even this they may be responsible on the
ground that their condition is the result of
shameless surrender to base passions. If
Guiteau, for example, were really in
sane, which we do not for moment suppose
him to be. he would only have to thank him
self for his pitiable condition, the result of his
own self-indulgence. AS the thing stands. he
is the responsible victim of passions which he
has all his life petted and of moral perverseness
in which he has found an exceeding comfort.
He is simply wicked If he is not then all
notion of Gods moral order is superstition,
and there is, and can be. no distinction between
right and wrong in this unfoEt world.
She Had the Craze.
From the Brooklyn Eagle ID
Il understand they have very fine exhibit
ton at the Art Association this season." said
Mrs. Breezy, as she poured out cup of coffee
for her lord and master. $50 hear" said Mr..
Breezy. taking his place at the head of the table.
'If you havnt any engagement tonight.
Mr.. Breezy. we will go round and see the pic
lures said Mrs. Breezy, in tone of voice
which implied that she did not expect her lord
to refuse. p
I'm very sorry dear" NI
THAT'S enough" said Mrs. Breezy :'Of
course, you have an engagement. What do YOU
care about pictures and art! But it's time we did
take an interest in such things. Mr.. Breezy. You
cannot expect to be thought ANYTHING of unless
you have some good pictures on your walls. and
our house is a disgrace to the age we live in.
Why, the walls are as bare az the top of your
head, Mr.. Breezy, and it's time We had picture
or two about just for appearances sake. if
nothing else"
Yes" said Mr.. Breezy, 81 saw some stunning
cOlored photographs"
''ColOred Photographs " calculated Mrs
Breezy, in tones of disgust ''Mr Breezy. Won are
without soul, You're wanting in the finer feel
ings which go to make up the cultured side of
life. You are"
81 read that myself" said Mr. Breezy. 81
suppose it is very high toned language. but
didn't understand it, and what is more. don't
believe you do" continued Mr.. Breezy with sur
pTlSlQy HTNlncSS.
8" Mr.. Breezy, if you are contented to remain
ignorant of the beautiful
Ignorant Of the beautiful repeated Mr.
Breezy, ''yes, that was stuck on the end of tho
article. Lots of words, but l didn't see the
sense of the thing' VIC
Will you allow me to get word in EDGE.
ways?" cried Mrs. Breezy, humping the table
vigorously with her knife handle.
Certainly, my DEAR" said Mr.. Breezy. suh-
siding and assuming his normal mildness of de-
meanOr
''As said, our house is az bare as barn "
continued Mrs. Breezy land if we do not wish
to be put down as ignorant, vulgar people, we
must get few pictures. Oil paintings. Mr.
Breezy. Real oil paintings and not tea store
prizes or colored prints such as you are used to
seeing in the vile saloons you FREQUENT. We will
visit the exhibition and l will pick out dozen
Or So
''Of assorted siZes?" broke in Mr.. Breezy.
"YOu will go with me, continued Mrs Rreazv
paying no attention to her husbands INTERRUPT
ton. st may soften down your rough. practi-
cal nature. which does not rise above law hooks
and hdeous legal papers,"
''She's got 'em" murmured Mr. Breezy
MIR Breezy, should like to know what vor,
mean to imply by that remark, " said Mrs Breezy.
Indignantly.
why the esthetic craze" said Mr.. Breezy
suddenly. bracing up amazingly 81 can stand
good deal, Mrs. Breezy" he continued ..hnt
there draw the line. Why, at this rate we shall