Arizona weekly citizen., 1882-07-02
THE LAW ADVOCATED.

At times we have thought that ven seance for the terrible crime of the as- sassin Guiteau should have followed sharply upon the heels of his murderous deed. In cold blood he had shot down the President of the United States, man most beloved by the people and from whose administration of the affairs Of the nation the country had much to expect. It was DO common murd ar, because it carried vylth it a train of con- seauences which might have been fraught with evil to the whole people and established a precedent which would be fatal to the Republican institutions.
 It seemed as though we could not wait the slow processes of law and chance its uncertainties and at times have wished that the aim of Ser geant Mason had been true.
 Nearly a year has dragged its slow length along since the atrocious crime which to-day sees legally pu ished was committed. A portion of that time public attention was taken from the despIcable criminal and given to watching the heroic suffer iacs and final death of the martyr Garfield. Then followed the ong trial, during which Gulteau was allowed every opportunity to defend himself. The defense was based upon the plea of insanity, but is was failure as far as inducing the jury or the public to believe that he was not responsible for hls nets. The trial resulted m con- viction, and after that efforts to cheat iustice and save the reprobate from the inst penalties of his crime dld not cease. but were continued down to the very last moment.
 Fortunately the law has proved ade- auate to the emergency, and to-day witnesses it's vindicatiOn in the legal hanging of the assassin. It is a grand triumph of law and indicates its strength ening hold upon the people.
 No more .pernicious thing can exist than the taking of the law into the hands of individuals. Itindicates low grade of civilization. IL shows passion rather than justice, and places the com nun. ties where it Is practieed upon the level with the brute creation.
 This case shows that this country has reached that stage of civilizati n when the greatest crime possible can be calmly tried and judicially punished.
 It has also determined the fact that the plea of insanity which has had too great influence of late, islosing its hold. Guiteau was beyond a doubt responsible for his acts and there has been alto nether too much method in his madness. yt,s rn,-acr.- ruT-1tsuus ~---t ansi., Ur total depravity to be found anywhere. He was essentially bad and imagined tlat every one was as depraved as himself. He thought that thIs fellow feeling would shield hlm from the pen alties of his crime. He reasoned that those who acquired power as an incl dental result of his foul act would re- gard him as a benefactor and protect him. Tn this he has naturally been dis appointed. Mankind has not sunk to the low depths which Guiteau's char acter has sornded and v1ndicates itself by his legal taking off
 The result is as 1t should be. and in the punishment to-day the whole nation participates not in the passion and anger which filled the popnlar breast when the crime was committed, but calmly and judicially. And all must re- joice in the supremacy of law and this its complete vindication.