New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-10-13
MANsLA GHTER BY ELECTRICITY

The PEOPLE Of this city observe with grim
satisfaction that the men who have been deal
ing out death by the thousand volts for years
past are not at the present moment in sneel1ng
mood. We do not remember having seen
within decade so many unmistakable lndlca-
tons Of popular agitation and anger as were
everywhere discernible yesterday. At home
and abroad in shops, in public conveyances and
on the streets the one topic OF conversation
was the agonizing spectacle which thousands
saw on Friday. The Mayor was not kept IN
bed by sickness, but renewed in person his
crusade against the deadly wires, and he had to
support him. we venture TO say, the good wishes
of a larger and more determined majority of
his fellow-citizens than have ever been uniied
by common impulse and demand since the
day of Tweed's downfall.
The individuals upon whom the public uni
versally places the responsibility for the death
of Feeks and for all the ghastly sacrifices which
have preceded it did not evince the spirit yes
terday which would have become them, but
they had the wisdom and the decency to re-
frain from buster. Whatever they may have
done to protect themselves in the continuance
Of their murderOuS work they did quietly. 1t
men who are supposed TO be above reproach
in their general relations to society; but 1t IL
occasionally imperative that public journal
should record the verdict which public opinion
has already found. without regard to personal
ties and sensibilities. We do not hesitate to
say that those within whose power it has con-
stantly been to forestall the possibility of such
tragedies as that of Friday are morally guilty
of manslaughter and that their conviction OF
that crime would be present satisfaction and
a permanent blessing to this community. For
years they have succeeded by Misrepresentation
and subterfuge, by technical defences and by
sheer audacity in violating the lava law in no
sense or degree less sacred than other laws, the
violation of which is continually punished.
While thus nscrupulously engaged in baking
the will and command of the people they have
incidentally been the means of killing eight
human beings and of throwing the whole city
into state of danger and terror They have
done these things, moreover, in the most shame
less way and spirit. 1t is possible that they
now experience the sort of remorse which Is
inspired by fear, but if hitherto they have felt
the slightest giief for their fatal misdeeds or
desire to repair them all expression of such a
state of mind has escaped our notice.
There are times when public safety is the
highest law Such time, we hope will never
come in New-York, but the electric-lighting
companies are doing whatever can be done to
convince the people of New-York that an
emergency of that sort exists now. The Mayor
respected the injunction. served upon him yes
terday, but he nevertheless succeeded in taking
some steps toward security and retribution, and
we rejoice to hear him say that no mere threat
of suits for damages will frghten him. The
matter will come before the courts tomorrow,
and we shall soon know whether the lives of
the citizens of New York lawfully belong to
them or to the corporations they have created.