The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1893-11-02
The Murder of Mayor Harrison.

The murder of Mayor Harrison, Of
Chicago, by a disappointed office>seeker
is a repetition in q smaller theatre of the
crime which twelve years ago deprived
the country of a President and for
time almost shook its confidence in pop
ular government Prendergast's assas-
sination of Mayor Harrison is similar in
many of its circumstances, all we'll as it's
leading motive. to the mad act Of Gui-
teau, and the same general moral that
was drawn from the earlier case may be
drawn from the latter. Prendergast,
like Guiteau, had evidently been medi-
tating his crime for some time, and like
Guiteau, lie committed it coolly and de.
liberately. Like the assassin of Presi-
dent Garfield, he surrendered himself
into the hands Of the police and not
only avowed his deed, but. seemed to
think that his course was justifiabie, if
not praiseworthy Both crimes had
their source in political causes, i'll which
office was an important factor, and
Prendergast's mind, as was the case with
Guiteau's, appears to have been for some
time in morbid and excited state, if
not entirely unbalanced.
OF course the origin OF all crime and
violence is to be found in some weak
ness or obliqliity of human nature or of
human intellect, which is as likely to
exist in one country and under one form
of government as another. But the
number and particular character of
these manifestations are determined
largely by the conditions to which such
weak natures or intellects are exposed
and to the circumstances by which they
are generally surrounded Under most
ordinary circumstances their weakness
may not be developed at all. 1t is not
only when subjected to special strain,
temptation or excitement that they give
way and reveal their moral or intelect>
ual infrmity.< Possibly Guiteau might
have gone to his grave without betray-
ing any murderous Tendencies but for
the Conkling Garfield fend and the bit
ter feeling it occassioned. In the same
way Prendergast might now be doing
duty satisfactorily, as guardian of the
peace in Chicago had not bis mind been
infiamed by brooding upon supposed
wrongs connected with the affairs CT
that city.
While it is manifestly impossible in the
| nature of things to remove entirely the
exciting causes that may operate upon
| such minds, there can be no question
that as far as politics is concerned these
causes may be very considerable reduced
in extent and force. As long as political
| positions are made the rewards of party
services there must necessarily be bit
terness and bad blood among those who
fail to secure what they consider propar
recognition. In the majority of cases
this ends simply in discomfort or dislike
for the particular individual who has
failed to give the applicant Office which
he thinks himself entitled to. But oc-
casionally there is a man like Guiteau Or
Prendergast whose weak intellect is set
on fire by the attrition of partisan pol
| itics or by the disappointments to which
| it gives rise, and the RESULTS a deed that
| startles communities or the whole coun-
| try. If we had an honest, intelligent
| ciyil-seryice system governing MUM
cipal as well as federal offices, in which
| the public had perfect confidence and
which INDICATED itself by its working,
the danger from this source would be
very greatly lessened. Sensational jour
nalism and reckless and bitter discus
sions of public men and measures have
also much to do with destroying moral
and intellectual balance and conserva-
tisIn. Such murderers as Prendergast,
bad and dangerous as they are, are
hardly worse than newspaper assassins
who attack public men they cannot
bleed and attempt to destroy the good
name of those who will not pay tLem to
be silent. Against such journalistic
criminals unfortunately there is gener>
ALLY no protection, except the public
and hearty contempt that is felt for the
assassin of reputation.
While Mayor Harrison was not in every
way admirable, as no man is, there was
much that was excellent both in his per-
sonal character and in his administers
/ ton. Of public affairs in Chicago. He
possessed remarkable executive ability,
a vigorous intellect and the particular