Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-06-24
Tne Eleventh zEour Plea For Gniteau.

Public opinion has quite generally decided
against Sny interposit!on OF power to Delay the
execution OF the assassin, Guiteau- The demanI
chat the law shall take its course, without inter-
rrpt.on dos not proceed from any clamor fer
vengeance. 1t is the calm ju.lg ment or the coun-
try, based upon an intimate knowledge Of every
fact and detail connected It'll the assaSsin's
crime. This eleverth-hcur appeal for executive
clemency represents, mainly, only few who are
interest d In Il scientific study OF insanity. They
have interested themselves in Guiteaus fats for
professional reasons Their request for respite
has been urged upon the ground that there Is not
Sufficient time left before the Gay fixed for the
ecGti0n fer til )rough and scientific inquiry to
The condition OF the as5aSsin'5 mind. 1t might be
answered, with force that could not De COM
Datte., that there nothing TO hinder those
who wanted commission OF Inquiry from asking
for 1t long ago. They could made the applica-
ton several months ago,and the fact that they de-
ferred 1t warrants the suspicion that the delay was
for the purpose OF affOrilng preteXt Tor respite.
But the history OF the assassnS trial, and the
life, character and conduct of the man himself,
developed since he murdered the late President,
furnish a completes answer to all the pleas made in
his behalf, and jul tify the public demand that he
shall pay the penalty OF his crime, as the law has
deereed.
When this effort to save Guiteau from the GAL
lows the theory that he Is insane is considered,
In the light OF his trial and the subsequent legal
proceedings in his behalf, IL Is plain that It has
nothing but sentiment, prompted by professional
Or scientific interest. to rest upon. The very plea
that Is now set up was made at the bar of the
Criminal COurt-inSanity. 1t was the condition OF
the assassins mind which was the subject OF the
long trial before Judge Cox, and certainly no IA
vorcd criminal ever enjoyed more advantages or
facilities than were permitted to this one. All the
witnesses desired were summoned at the expense
OF the government, and after weeks of patient in
quiry the jury rendered verdict of guilty, which
was. I'm effect that the assassin was mentally
spOnsible for his act His conduct did as
much TO impress the country with his mental
soundness rs the evidence He displayed the
keenest perception as TO all points bearing upon
his case, and frequently advised his counsel, per-
sisting all along in his right to assist in his own
defence.
But the verdict which sends him to the gallows
does not rest upon the proceedings In the Criminal
Court alone. Every tribunal that has appellate
jurisdiction has reviewed those proceedings and
approved the result Even judge OF the United
States supreme bench has passed upon the verdict
and found it righteous one. Nothing in law or
Justice can be found to warrant executive clen-
eney, and to accord 1t would have an Injurious
moral enect Should Guiteau escape from the
doom which Justice has pronounced upon him, the
eject would be to encourage criminals of
his class and caliber to execute vengeance upon
those who thwart disappoint them The plea
or insanity and inspiration would be invoked to
Justify malicious murder. The only safe course is
70 let The law, into whose hands the assassin was
delivered on the day he committed his crime, dis
pose OF him as 1t has decreed To snatch the as
sassn from the gallows would crafty few ex-
pertS as triumph OF their theory and still fewer
VINO are interested from ties of blood but it would
-oiSappOint the great mass OF the people, who be-
neve that Justice can only be satisfied in the as
sassins execution.
The railway shipping business OF New York Is
practically at stand-stiIl, on account OF the
strike OF the men engaged In loading and unload
ing freight cars, and the mercantile inter-
ess both OF that city and OF distant points are SUI
ferfng In consequence. One side or the other to
the contest must yield soon or serious results Will
follow. AS the railroads are rich and powerful,
and the laboring men are poor, and dependent on
their daily wages, 1t is likely that the latter will
be compelled by necessity to give way 1t will be
rather hard, however, IL they have to do So Their
demand for better wages is certainly not an IN
reasonable one. Their pay has been II cents Der
hour, and what they ask is an increase to 20 cents
per hour, very slight advance, indeed consider
ing now much the cost OF living has been increased
curing the past year. II II cents was fair price
year ago-and It assuredly could not be consid-
cred munifcent,-20 cents Is evidently not too
much now But what aggravates the matter and
renders the position OF the railway companies
more untenable, is the fact that the trunk lines
nave ordered 4 large advance in the freight rates,
70 take effect on the 1St OF July, On first class
freight bound west the Increase Is from As cents to
% cents; second class, from % to so; third class
from % 70 40; fourth class, from 10 to 90 In view
OF these figures IL Is difficult see how the appea,
OF the laborers for better pay can be resisted by
their employers, except by openly assuming the
ground they have long held in point OF fact
namely, that corporations are big fish and work.
ingmen are little fish, and that the big fish have
Doth the right and the power 10 eat the little ones
III Representative Young is correctly reported
sthat gentleman was never more mistaken In his
life than he Is In his stated belief that the people
OF the country want the proposed reduction OF the
internal revenue tax on beer to so cents per barrel
and on whiskey TO 80 cents per gallonn ssThe
people of the country" want nothing of the sort
The manufacturers OF those articles may want It:
small clique of spectators may want it; and here
ana there few consumers may want it; but '.the
people" as mass do not want anything OF the
Kind. What they want is that the revenues OF the
country shall be raised mainly from articles OF
luxury, used by the rich, and that the necessities
OF life shall be taxed as lightly possible whether
py internal or by customs duty laws Beer and
whiskey, used as beverage, are both articles OF
luxury, pure and simple, except In q small number
OF cases where their habitual uss has made them
an imaginary necessity. Neither are absolutely
essential as articles of food drink for daily use
and both can therefore very well stand the tax
imposed by existing laws The power OF the gov
eminent has been used too long for the benefit of
the few and TO the detrment OF the many and IL is
time for reform In that respect. Let those who
are disposed to use luxuries pay roundly for their
pleasure and let the articles that are indispensable
In the daily life OF the wUrkingmen women and
children OF the country be afforded at the lghtest
Cost possible. That Is the true policy, and the policy
that the country must adopt II it would enjoy pros
perity and immunity from labor strikes and indus
trial disturbances OF whatever kind. General
Young ought to turn square around. He is march,
Ing In the wrong direction The distillers and
brewers Of his district are not 'the people," by
hong way.
! Among the political designations developed by
The Generalization OF parties in Pennsylvania is
that OF Cameron democrat" IL Is employed to
define class who, calling them elves democrats
IN national matters, support the Cameron dynasty
efsher from interested or personal motives, I'm
state contests. Some OF the friends Of Senator
Cameron, with more freedom than discretion, per-
haps have been boasting that he can get aid
enough from the democrats to Offset the loss OF the