Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-04-19
DAILY .INTEluCENCER


MlsPLACEO PHILANTHROPY.
When an assassin has murdered MS
victim, be at once becomes an object OF
public condemnation. When be Il ar
rested and BROOCH, to trial, he Is the
ecal point of popular attention.
convicted and sentenced to be hanged
ma NJ two fesults is liable to follow
either an indignant and restless popu-
lace, fearful that justice VIII not DC
m et.d out. take the law into their own
hands and execute tn. sentence OF the
court, or place the r.d-handed wfetch
nnon pinnacle and envelop him VIII
morbid sympathy. II be isn't quickly
disposed of by the officers OF Judge
Lynch's court. he Is stuffed IKE
Thanksgiving turkey and prepared Tor
his impending dissolution. Either Is
wrong. Both are hurtfui to society
Only little while ago, Wheeler, the
9 traneler, was hanged in san ffanci'ca'
He had remorselessly and brutaiiy
.h.ksd tn death sister OF his vile,
whom he had ruiued, and then crowded.
the lifeless body into trunk. lhi7
vas three years ago. Since that time,
until hanged, he was the recipient Oh
most fia,tering observation-disclosures were
hsaped upon him, his cell was Visi'eo
by sympathetic females, his stomach
,orued with delicacies. He lived ike
nabob and died. one OF the daily pa
nara said. game" While all this WAS
going on, the corpse of his VICTIM
whose soul, by the fierce grasp OF MS
stronp hands, had been forced out oil
her frail body, lay silent, mouiderihs III
the charnel house.
Recently, in Portland. wretch
named Murray was found guilty OF
murder in the first degree and sentenced
to he hanged. He was guilty of aaais-
siration. He lay in wait for his victim
and shot him from concealment. Inc
Young man who WAS killed was walking
with his sister, VINO was the divorced
wife of the assassin. This was the Only
oause of his murder. When this mend
WAS arrested and put on trial, there
was great public indignation, and sng
positions of a short shrift to him were
in the air. He luckily escaped such
summary proceedings. stood trial ana
was convicted. He is now awaiting MS
inst deserts. There is not. so far AZ has
appeared, single redeemiDg feature IN
the character Of this guilty wretch, nor
shadow of p Citation for his dastardiy
crime. He is friendlsss and deservedly
20. Yet in a Portland exchange we
read that philanthrOpic individuals
have exerted themselves in his behalf :
that several have visited him and ad-
ministered to some OF his creature
comforts" and that petitions for
Communication Of his sentence have been
prepared and will soon be- circulated.
Meanwhile, as in the case OF Wheeler
the victim of his Infamous aud COW
ardly attack lies in the cefiin, dead
almost forgotten, save by few near
relatives.
II is not philanthropy. it is not char
ity, it is not justice to society to thus
smooth the last days of a murdorous
wretch. Still less il the effort to secure
remittance Of the death penalty praise
worthy or wise. In either case it pal
liates tho righteous Judgment and SON.
tence OF the law There is far too much
morbid sympathy lavished upon the
wretohes who by most wonderful Ill
LUCK happen to become entangled in the
meshes of the law. They are potted,
feted, almost glortied. Over them
weak min led females gush and weep,
before them fora, offerings are spread,
while into their vile carcasses goes the
best of food and wine. Instead of be-
ing treated as in justice they deserve,
instead Of being left to days and nights
of loneliness and solemn expiation
for their crimes, their hours are soOthed
with sympathy and song until when on
the soaffold, they almost unanimously
declare themselves just ready to be
translated into angels of Paradise. Ev-
cry day or two We read of some beetle
browed, black hearted wretch, whose
life has left trail of blood, asserting
on the gibbat, whence he is shortly to
be jerked into futnrity or nothingness
that he il washed white" and is going
to Heaven. If he can get there, all
right. But while on this side the gull
We believe he should be treated AZ his
crime deserves. ~ his life and deeds
demand; not as martyr, nor "a man
entitled to consideration from the phi.
lanthropic or charitable. There are
enough worthy objects upon which to
lavish sympathy or to bestow benefac
tons. All around us are poor and
worthy men and women whose fortunes
have been hard, whose lives have been
mostly in the shadow of ill success. Tc
suoh let charity extend a helping hand
1t may save some soul from crime
They are deserving Of sympathy and
support. But to the vile and heartless
the constituencies and cowardly. The
brutal and bloodthirsty assassins, VIE
30 rarely are brought to punishment
nothing but stern, memorable justice il
due or should be- extended. sympathy
with such il an abnormal sentiment !,
in weak. maudlin. morbid and wicked.
TlA IlaR llrllGNS M AEATTl 4