The Washington critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1889-1889, 1889-02-04
DEATH WITH DISGRACE.

DEATH WITH DISGRACE.
Whether hcsudden death Of Crown
Prince Rudolf of Austria was from
apoplexy, suicide, duel, or an assas-
sination is not vet made clear TO the
world. Various and conflicting re-
ports have come to this country in
its relation, but the only point upon
which accounts are reconciled Is that
which gives rs the remote cause, one
of those Hdsons ddRgereuse, Tor which
European Courts, and especially the
scions of royalty, are most noted.
From these antagonisms of state
ment affecting the Immediate cause, II
is reasonable to conclude that the
death was not unattended with some
strong features Of disgrace, for which
the royal family at Vienna must blush,
and of which it had not the moral
courage TO advise curious and cen
soIious public. This is the common
mistake to which all classes of society
are given. The disposition to cover
up and hide the grosser errors OF the
dead is generally accepted as charita.
BILE, merciful to the inanimate, when
in truth, the observation of silence in
such cases is far mora in consideration
Of the living than in respect for the
dead.
II is conceded that Prince Rudolf,
just prior to his death, had been de.
by the Count Clamgallas in an
unpardonable encroachment upon the
sacredDess of his family relations, and
the natural inference is that if his
death was occasioned by violence it
came directly from the snap-judgment
of the revolver. 1t may have been
suicide, result of shame and mortid-
cation, and 1t may have come of the
duello, but 1t is not to be considered
that even under such provocation as
the Austrian noble is thought to have
Yeceived, he would have resorted to the
ushasc methods of an assassin. The
beory that Prince Rudolf was shot
through window in the back of the
Hhead at the hands of Count Clamgallas
is not at all within the range of proba.
bilhy.
The violation of mans home, In
all countries, where the marriage rela-
ton is held sacred, or where family
| ties are regarded, has come to be an
offense of which the family court may
take cognizance. As rule the civil
lied world inclnes to justify homi-
cide at the hands of husband or
father for such ruin of the peace of
bis home, but in no country should a
man be justified for creeping in
shadow, waylaying and numbering
such an offender in the manner sug-
gested.
About twenty-five years ago nota-
Bile case of homicide from similar prov
pcation occurred in this city. One of
be ablest and most brilliant lawyers
leconntry society leader and %
- OF proud ancestry, was shot down
In the open street, and in one of the
most conspicuous parts of the city.
1t was a sad thing-a source of uni
versal regret, but it was accepted by
the world at large as a natural result,
and the only recompense for such q
crime. Society is the same throughout
the civilized world, and in the OBJ.
servance of social rules this is the ex-
eeptional case, the lea non seripta,
which has become the custom, and
which courts are beginning to recog-
nize as the common law of self-defense
whether the homicide be in the mo.
ment of discovery or later. The heat
. and passion in such q case is construed
TO endure, and there is no murder,
because no malice prepense, for premedi.
tation cannot come of heat and pas
sion.
The suggestion comes naturally that
in the social organization, If any per-
sons should be models and exemplars
Of virtue, strict observers of all the
laws and rules which hold society to-
:. gether, 1t should be those who stand
>tlie strong light of high places, and
hose honor the world accords the
4 mshing title of nobleman.