Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-01-24

49,
sssh OF any ether daily paper published in
washington, and much greater ,han that
All the other daily papers here added
ersat surprise was occasioned last fall when Mr.
hoNeifs the novelist and editor was found among
the signers OK petition TO Governor OSiesby for
the remission OF the sentence or death against the
chieaeo anarchists. All sorts OF rlImors were set
anoat 70 aecolnt for IL. One story described him
asrrightened by threatening letter; another ar
euseu MIN of tendency toward all sorts OF social
heresles But his frien - who knew him best were
aware that the real rsasOn OF his protest against
the hanging OF these asssssins was his adherence
oi ali nangings- He Is dIsbelever in capital pun
ishment on the theory that II II Is wrong for
the heat OF passion TO take the life of his neigh
DOT, IL - doubly wrong for a collection OF men,
acting In an ofcial capacity aud In cool blood 70
sVenge that homicide by committing another. II is
III ACCORDANCE with this view that Mr.. Howells now
suggests edltorialiy, the idea OF selecting execu-
TONERS oy Let instead Of letting any one man
make trade OF the slaughter OF human beings
he would have every citizen made liable TO hang
mans duty, as he Is already TO jury duty, 80 that
The high social magn1te as well rs the degraded
rufnan can have a chance 10 destroy the lives OF
h.s fellow men OF course, all this is pure satire.
coming from the pen Of so skillful writer as Mr..
howeiis. 1t is likely to make more impression on
fne popular mind than rs merits strictly war
AkASs tDuOuDlS1ty the ecCeSSOrfeS OF the QpaIl
penalty, n now executed. are horrible and revolt
ing TO the refined sense But m these be removed
by the substitution OF system Ike that OF the
electric chair for the scaod and rope. there will
he no outward sign OF the executioner's work II
would be a very simple matter 10 have the prisoner
hidden from sight AFTER being placed in his chair
and the current that is TO dispatch him conveyed
automatically by tine movement OF a clockwork,
hydraulic steam hotair lever that the precise
moment OF death and all It's Incidents will be IN
Known, ever 20 the sheriff and his jury Of physi-
clans. Experience seems 70 have demonstrated
that the world, at Its present stage OF civilization,
cannot get along very well without the OF the
death penalty as a deterrent; and the Howells
school OF philosophers could spend their time
better advantage in helping 10 devise means for
performing disasreeable duty as deeently as
possible than in raising abstract arguments
against sooiety's right TO self-protection.
Walter NJ Gibson, the deposed premier Of
Hawaii, who has Just died In san Francisco. had
career as wonderful, IN some ways. as that OF q
hero Of Old-fashiOned fiction II began, according
u current tradition, In the old world, where. as a
wSnderer, ne had got into trouble In Greece been
thrown into prison. and escaped through the aid
OF the keepers daughter Its first authentic Incl
dent, however. was when, a penniless young man
in New York city. he answered the advertisement
OF 4 Traveller for a coachman. and drove his EN-
ployer's horses TO Pendeton, 8 c. He was some
thing OF scholar, and taught school in south
Carolina using his spare time in prospecting for
precious metals, with but little success. He mar
RED during this period, but his wife dying. he
resumed the life OF q wanderer, and roamed
the high seas on q small vessel OF his own. |
He was captured and imprisoned for some onense
bJ the Dutch authorities in Sumatra, but escaped
in the disguise OF a woman. He then came back
To America, and emigrated with his orphaned
children 10 salt Lake City, where he remained
TIN after the civil war, and then went 10 Hawaii
There he rapidly rose in politics till he became the
chief OF Kalakaua's cabinet. The revolution OF
last spring threw him out OF power and into |
exile, and he has been In this country ever since
awaiting a turn In affairs, which he confidently
expected would enable him to return to Honolulu |
and resume the conduct of the government
The city postmaster and district attorney ap- !
pointed by the President are doubtless well enough
qualiiied for the places but their selection was
aue almost entirely TO outside political influence
there does not seem TO be any particular reason !
why they should be named in any way as repre- |
senting District citizenship The postmaster gets
his appointment through IlnoiSinfiuence and the |
appointment Of the district attorney, who still re-
tainS his legal residence at Martinsburg is ex- |
pected II Is stated $50 fix Cleveland solid In West
Virginia" The appointments were doubtless good
political strategy but they certainly were NOT the
ones asked for by the District people.
The supreme Court OF the United states has
properly refused TO interfere with the case OF
Maxwell, alias Brooks. convicted OF the murder OF
Preller IL st. Louis nearly two years ago. The
several recent failures OF appeals to the supreme
court when all resorts 10 state have proved
vain, ought 70 have a rather discouraging effect
upon counsel In murder cases generally As rule,
though, they probably would be willing 10 carry
an appeal 10 the emperor of China regardless OF
the folly OF such a course IL their clients con-
sented TO pay the necessary fees.
AZ last the House OF Representatives has got it.
self together and done what II ought 10 have done
several days ago-decided Mr. Carlisle entitled Tn
his seat, and Mr.. Thobe's claim to a reopening OF
his contest ill-founded. As was very well set forth
by the majority OF the committee 10 have done
anything else would have been TO put premium
on dilatoriness. II Mr.. Thobe had had good case
and good counsel he would have had no occasion
To ask this unusual favor OF the House. but would
nave been In position have his confess disposed
OF promptly at the beginning OF the session.
Mr.. OBrien Is getting enough Kindness from his
fellov-citizens In Ireland 70 make I'D for some OF
the ill-treatment he has received az the hands OF
has Iailor According 70 his statistics only three
hundred OF the eighteen hundred branches OF the
National League have been interfered with by the
police, while the remaining fifteen hundred are
daily defying the authorities without rebuke be-
S@oSr VI, "o'rEHncnt u sill pay AFRAID 10 attempt
70 suppress them.
The disorueriy proceedings al the republican
convention to-day revive the memories of the
times when the GLORIOUS right Of suffrage was
last exercised In Washington II only needs a
Few shootings, razor-cuttings, and brad-awl
puncturings Of obnoxious vo.ers TO bring those
times quite home 70 US
TEE STAR has not space for an hundredfh part
OF the communications sent TO u, though many OF
them contain suggestions OF considerable value
On matters OF puoiic interest. Contributors
Thea sfsre. who study brevity IN writing. stand
much he best chance OF getting into STAR print
Inc ret irerleE; CT Hr. Seyell0n Brown from the
chief CT rkship Of the state Department Will
Change Ie face % things there almost ss much as
The resis nation OF secretary. The Department
viii oe hardly recognizable without MS familiar
rgure N the foreground
WOA1H ISvrs1resr1ye.
FEE low PRICES VIZ NAME FOR MEMS