New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-08-10

GIVE TIE NEW law 4 FAIR CHANCr'
The advocates of that provision of the new
execution law by which the liberty OF the press
T. ohridcod ore not to be blamed if they point
70 tbc eytravagant and sensational reports OF
tho Kcmmler affair rs tho luStlhcation oi thcll
enactment. Indeed, if such provision c"ulu
he justified at all these reports would 90 IT,
They were a disgrace to journalism ana gross
abuse of public confidence, and their eject ~
no doubt in many cases it was intended to no.
= bi,bl, nroiu6icial II a fair test OF the ne"
Iaw and TO It's orderly enforcement hereafter.
We look upon th, As most unfortunate ana
we ,i7ao good citizens 70 stand up strongly
against it. If there is any one thlng tha' 'he
American people can Justly place to thcir crcd'
II j. stability of character. we 90 Ho' 'aAc
mnortant steps hastily or unreaSoningiy' ana
having taken them. we test Their results thor-
ougnly and fairly before retlacinG them. we
arc not moved by sudden gusts oi ieeihs'
c,nociallv when such cbulhtions are due !"
ghsnrd and unworthy causes. We should apply
lis excellent element Of our character Us
,,onIa - the situation that has been produced
Nv The mtruthful reports Of kcmmlers eXecu-
zion.
THE TEIBr'SE stated the exact facts con
corning the execution clearly and calmly. lh're
wa, nothing to got excited about. Oh course
M one can tell to the fraction OF panS no"
much or how little Reminder suffered hut thcre
i every reason 70 believe that h" did not eX-
,oricnce a single sensation ten seconds after
tbo current entered his body, and that the only
sensation he did experience was that OF
numbness suddenly possessing his nerves and
- To-. 20 Law ~
hiring about tho nearest possible approach t.
porfectlv painless death, and although several
mistakes were made in the administration OF inc
electricity. mistakes which, perhaps were ll'u-
ral. and perhaps 10 he regarded with Suspicion
but which in either event can be readily pro
vented hereafter. il i n certain as anything
can be- that THIS great object was satisfied. Ih'
,bvsicions presont were a distinguished body OF
men. distinguished for their general SciontiiIc
knowledge. and especially for the results Of
their studies in the effects Of electricity upon
animal systems. They were not all advocates
~ tbo n.,y law. some indeed were lis V!O-
lont opponcnts some We're mildly opposed Z"
i and some were holding their JUDGEMENTS III
.usuousion 10 examine the results Oh the eN-
r.rimcut they were there 20 witness. Al"
vot al are perfectly agreed that k"mm!'i
.urorcd q, little ~ a human being could and
undergo tho extinction of his lie. Whatever
TINT suffering laav have been, il was a, III"
prick of "A needle compared with the drHdIW
torture Of rcmor~clc>-, slowly choking rope
In most instance, the object Of tho Offending
nc,,,pauors in Publishing their eXagg"rai"I r.
mort, wa, the contemplate object Of working
nm = cr.v>orc sensation. I'm som" cases there
is reason r. suspect deliberate mi>r"pl"~on'A-
,ou. our reporter at Auburn had no difficulty
m ucrcoiyiug that some Of hi, associates We"
tcut upon magulfyinG every incident that hap
ncnod 10 be "a Htti" painful into "A bleeding
horror. Whether this motive or the p"ttI'r
onc was RESPONSIBLE for the stories sent ont
from Auburn, their effect, Of course, Is the
,amc. ! vast outcry n pouring itself iorth
| from all SORTS OF people calling upon Governor
| Hill ~ rcprievc all condemned murdcrcrN until
| the new law can be repealed. One wId-'yed
| LEGISLATOR dcm1nd> an extra Session, 50 thai
| bc with the grateful eyes OF his numerous
oountrymcn upon him, may save them all from
! This hidcouS death. Governor Eli VIII b."
! doing an act that is worse than silly If be
| listens 10 any such nonsense. That the paid
| counsel Of condemned murdcrcrS will tear their
! hair and groan dolcfulir. and make In" most
IF those false reports, is. naturally TO be looked
for. Let them tear and groan and expand their
imagnqtion~ all thcy fee! thar their counsel
rcos nav for We may be sure they will
not do more The new law appears To be far
| better than the old one. IL Is III the Interest
Of mercy and civilization TO give it full and
candid test.