The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-05-04

Il Is not an edfyiDg spectacle to find a
Railroad Commissioner whose functions
are judicial. or quasi judicial tOutlng at
political convention for the Craftsmanship.
Mr.. Rea is of opinion that he can weather
all the criticism forthcoming on this SUBJ
jeCt. lie processes to have had an earnest
yearniDg for the craftsmanship perhaps as
a stepping-stone TO something else in line
with his ambition, and he would have the
public believe that he is mortified and
chagrined that the Southern Pacific Rail-
road Company nave deserted him, and
shown rank ingTatitude TO a friend in need
and deed. When reminded that the South
ern Pacific are now out of politics, Mr..
Rea's answer practically is. Tell that to
the marinesP' Admittedly be should know
something on this matter, and he says the
Southern Pacific put up bureau In his own
district of San Jose TO beat his delegation
and spent thousands of dollars. This is the
manner Of the monopoly in elections.
Money is unfailing in the assertion Of prin-
ciple, as seen through Southern Pacific
spectacles. and Mir. Rea is downcast that
the exertiOn Of influence was not on bis
side. Somehow the railroad company have
the habit of jogging along with people for
time and then dropping them. 1t was, per-
haps, inconyenient to the company that Mr..
Rea should be chairman. His services are
appreciated as Commissioner.
The sentence of death passed upon Deem
ing is righteous hundred times over when
considered in the light of the enormities of
atrocity he has committed. He has been a
butcher of human beings for years, appar-
emily without motive, and the marvel is he
should so long have escaped detection
That he is insane in the ordinary sense no
one can prove, and that he should be held
responsible for his demoniacal acts is lust.
Bu1 the history Of the man invests him with
peculiar interest as an abnormal PSYCHOLOGY
cal type. He is akin 10 certain ferocIous
animals that never desist from the attack
and slaughter Of their enemies or the crea-
lures they deyOur, although the calls Of
hunger may have no existence at the mo-
ment. A terrier kills rat at sight. Ii is
not question OF appetite, but OF antipathy
possibly meaningless antipathy, but new
ertheless almost uneonquerabie. DeemiDg
seems TO have regarded his various victims
either with an antipathy. easily aroused, or
as victims TO satiate morbid thirst for the
nofTlble He may possibly have taken
s q 1ehals 5 pleasure in seeing blood
2 dellght in hearing the shrek of
despair, and watching countenances that
igl merry showed trust in him, and perhaps
steetioh, qulVer with fright and turn into
eIe pa,'oI OF death. He may even have ex-
sIaossu q lefoelous Joy from study of the
newspaper comments on his crimes. In
this sense Deeming is a Psychological mon
strosity, being lmpeiled to frightfnl nro-
penslteS by defects of nature wholly inex-
plicable and mystifying, but not jastif-ing
mankind in treating him as not accounta-
bic for his actions. The proper end for
man OF this moral deformity. who regards
murder as a. recreation aud the horror of
society as a positive satisfaction, is death
on the scaffold. Deeming himself will not
take that view. but 1t is quite inadmissible