Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-01-14
R-I-E.n

The number of newspaper editors
who are now hungering, thirsting and
bowling for GUITEAU's blood reminds
one of pack Of wolves in pursuit OF q
wounded stag, or flock of crows
cawing and cireling around the carcass
of q fallen beast.
They can't wait Tor the judicial order
for his blood. When that is given, if il
shall be, they will probably be too inn
patient to wait for the hangman. We
EXPECT some volunteers from among dis
tinguished representatives of the press
for the honor (?) of touching the trigger
that shall put GUITEAU to dangling in
the air. This may be the high honor
for which so many are yieing with each
other in their cry for blood.
Iftherc is any other candidate who
takes precedence over the press for ser
vice in this behalf, it is perhaps the New
jersey Senate, which solemnly resolved,
the other day, that GUITEAU is sane.
That ought to settle it.
When one branch of a Legislature
steps in to court of justice in the midst
ola trial and declares the accused gull
ty, that body ought To be allowed to do
the hanging.
Ifthey had only passed their resolu-
ton little earlier they might have
saved the Government much expense,
or if they had appeared as experts they
might have made it unnecessary to eX-
anime any other witnesses and the as
sassin would have had a chance to ask
them how much they We're paid for their
testimony.
GUITEAU has been called "crank."
1t was necessary to enlarge the English
vocabulary to find word that would
define him. Crank" is the word that
does it. Everybody agrees that he is q
crank" The experts seemed to know
little, or have little experience with this
species of modern disorder. But
common people have some conception
ofthe ''critter" that is denominated q
''crank." GUITEAU has been consist
ent "crank" as far back as his history
has been traced. His CREATIONS as q
boy nj home; his connection with the
Oneida community; his grand newspa-
per schemes in Chicago; his theological
Iecturing tour; his peculiar and erratic
operations rs q lawyer; his aspirations
after one Of the first missions toa foreign
country; his shooting of the President
in order to change the status of the po-
litical factions; his whole conduct and
career while on trial, is, without miss
ing link, that of consistent "crank. !"
The better sentiment of the country,
the highest intelligence among the peO-
pie, AS we'll as the courts, are
puzzled TO know what to do
with such u CREATURE, at least, puzzled rs
to whether the civilization of the age
can consistently hang him. The calam-
ity he has brought upon the country,
the suffering he has caused, the humili-
alton and regret which all men have
shared rs the result of his act, cannot be
compensated or obliterated by taking
his life. He cannot escape punishment;
he can never be free man again, but
there is no special call for this great gov
crnment TO stain its hands with the
blood of an irresponsible human being,
if there is reasonable doubt about his
sanity.
We do not undertake to decide this
question. 1t is too grave and delicate q
matter for hap-hazIrd opinions. We
propose to leave it to the jury Of twelve
men who have the responsibility on
them. But we do undertake to say that
these blood-thirsty appeals ofthe press,
and of State Legislatures, are quite as
cranky and offensive to the better judg-
ment of the country rs is the character
and conduct of the assassin himself.