Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1883-06-28

thirst to be the heroes of the hour,
and do not seem to care much how
the distinction is obtained, whether by
killing man or by eating thirty brace
of q uail in thirty days. Our sensa-
tional newspapers have much to answer
for in this direction. Foolish deeds,
or still worse, deeds of wrong, are
magnifed out of all proportion to
humble deeds of good The criminal
is far more talked Of than the philan-
thropist, and it cannot but be that the
minds of many should be Influenced to
desire to initiate the criminal for the
sake of his notoriety, rather than the
philanthopist for the sake Of his good
deeds. We do not say that this operat-
ed in the present case, but it frequently
does operate. This spirit, we believe,
is in the air, and works unconsciously
sometimes, but yet works to influence
men for evil.
There are remedies which ought to
be applied. Every such case as this,
revealing the evil that exists in human
nature and works out in society, ought
to stimulate Christian people to re-
newed activity to extend the sway of
the gospel.
But there are special remedies for
the state of things of which we speak
The course Of justice among US might
be swifter and surer. Contrast the
trials that have recently been conduct
ed concerning the murderers and
conspirators in Ireland with some
noted trials in this country. The
trials there, while fair and dignifed,
were brief. There was no unnecessary
delay, and speedy execution of SEN
tence followed the findings Of the
court. But here, what prolonged
and unnecessary agony was the Guiteau
trial; how the Star Route case has
dragged its slow length along till the
jury, could scarcely at the end
remember what was testified or argued
at the beginning We must make the
course of justice more brief and more
certain, if we want to take away from
men the excuse they now argue them
selves into believing they have, to
take the law into their own hands.
We must do what we can, moreover,
to do away with the cheap and evil
notoriety which is so often given to
our worst criminals. We can learn a
great deal from the methods pursued
in Great Britain. We do not read Of
long reporters 'interviews'' with
criminals there under sentence. They
are secluded in their confinement, and
the black flag on the staff at the Jail
quietly tells of the execution. They
are not made the heroes Of the hour,
with pages of newspaper description
devoted to them, as was the case with
the wretched Guiteau. There is thus
no pandering to vicious curiousity
and morbid taste. A temptation
which results from the opposite course
is taken out Of mems way. We are
very sure that the temporary notoriety
we give to our evil doors operates to
create other evil-doers. We ought to
remove this temptation from the path
of our fellow-men.
Finally, we must begin at our homes
and teach our children obedience
Lawlessness of the State grows out of
lawlessness in the household. The
uncontrolled child must Of necessity
become the uncontrolled man or woman.
Regard for parental law will lead ma
turally to regard for civil law. And we
cannot begin at toe young an age to
impress upon our children the great
lesson of obedience. The mistake too
many parents make is of putting this
off till too late Hence their children
are never controlled.
Certainly it becomes all good citizens
to see to it that by every means in
their power this homicidal tendency,
running so strongly among US at the
present time, be checked not only, but
done away. We must respect civil
law; we must reverence human life -eu