St. Paul daily globe., 1889-02-17
We EDITORS.


But it is like everything else-those
without experience in any line of busi-
ness only catch glimpses of the bright
side, while the worries, the responsible
ties, and the immense drain upon men
tai and physical forces are obScured from
view. 1t is not because we are an ex-
ception in the profession of Journalism,
and have not had an abundance Of sug-
gestions voluntarily made by oyer-zeai-
GUS friends and ultra-cynical critics as
to how to run newspaper, that the
GLOBE propounded its inquiries, to
which answers are published in this
issue. 1t was done more for the pur-
pose of ascertaining the variety of opin-
ion that existed concerning the proper
management of newspaper than for
any lack Of confidence in our own ability
to furnish just such paper as the
people of the Northwest needed; and,
at the same time,, we had in mind to-
avail ourselves of the benefit of all sug
gestions that were pertinent and profit
able. We simply presented the GLOBE
as it is, as the standard of a newspaper,
and asked for honest opinions as to its
defects or what improvements could be
suggested. The consensus Of opinion
that we have obtained from the leading
citizens of the two cities is in the main
complimentary to the GLOBE. and shows
that we are abreast with the best thought
of this section. Still, we publish the
adverse criticisms as cheerfully as we
do those that fatter, and in all frank
ness admit that in many particulars
they are inst. The GLOBE never holds
itself above criticism, nor will it at
tempt to shield itself from rebuke when
merited. The GLOBE is essentially
paper Of the people. 1t walks with
them, talks with them, sympathizes
with them, and, when occasion requires
it, we reprove them. Therefore we
accord to the masses the same privileges
we enjoy; and trey are just as free to
jaw back at us as we are to Whack
them. Ia conclusion, we congratulate
the Twin Cities upon the abundance of
good editorial material among their pop
ulations, as is demonstrated by the
number of talking editors who have
contributed to this issue of our paper.
THE UNPUNISHABLE CRIME.
Our news columns this morning give
the details of a horrible tragedy in
Freeborn county, in which a young man
murders his three Ems women and then
takes his own miserable life. This
triple murder and suicide IS only an
exaggerated repetition of ,ghc.t is occur
ring almost every day in some parts Of
the country. Scarcely day passes but
our news columns tell the tale of some
person, with suicide in mind, first try
ing his murderous hand on another
victim, and then cutting short his own
existence. The practice is becoming so
common as to take the form of mania,
and yet society seems powerless to
check or prevent this species of crime,
because it is an unpunishable crime.
By his own act the criminal puts him
self beyond the reach Of the law. Thus,
the only remedy that can be resorted to
must be of preventive nature.
1t we understood the cause of this
peculiar form of mania it would be an
easy matter to restrain or to eradicate it
by removing the cause. But there is no
scientific theory upon which it can be
properly accounted for. 1t may origi-
nate, as some claim, from peculiar at
mospheric conditions which produce an
abnormally morbid state of the brain.
accompanied by a corresponding vic
iousness of disposition. Or it may re-
suit from that SiDguit Grait in human
nature known as suggestive imitation
the act of one person creating in the
mind of another the impulse to do the
same thing. But however little we
know of the cause or origin. we do
know that crime in its various forms
sweeps over the country in periodic
tidal wave.
Just now the wave of crime that is
| highest is of that unpunlshable type
when characterized the Freeborn
tragedy. The law stands powerless as
| it confronts this horrible Quadruple
| murder. The courts cannot make an
example of the perpetrator of the afro
cious deed. There is absolutely no
deterrent remedy to be applied in such
such cases. What, then, shall society do
| to protect itself against the rayageS of
| this peculiar form of mania?
| First of all, we hold that the most eff
fective remedial agency is the creation
| of moral sense in the minds of the in
| dividual. Whether this can be most
successfully done by instilling moral
sentiments into the mind, or by the eX-
er else of deterrent forces, depends
| somewhat upon the construction of the
brain of the individual and its capacity
| to receive impressions. This is not the
first time the suicide mania has afflicted
| the world. But in the past ages NOR e
heroic treatment than will probably be
tolerated in this age was resorted to,
| and with good effect. In past periods
suicide, when too frequent, was dis
couraged by the exposure of the corpse
| to derisiou. While we do not suggest a
repetition of this treatment, we do in
sist that something must be done
to make suicide unpopular. The
canon of the mother church
which denies Christian burial to
the suicide is sound in princi-
pie. 1t impresses the human mind
with the enormity of the crime, for it is
crime. and thus many miserable per-
son, who from stress of circumstances has
oh 70 lab