The herald., 1894-01-02
cHlcAeo.s wHoLEsoms EXAMPLE.

All preoent indications point to the
hanging of Prendergast, the vicious
human devil who killed Hon. Carter
Harrison at Chicago in October last
That he should be executed by the law
is nothing but common justice, and far
more creditsble than if he had been let
loose on the street to be lynched by an
angry mob as would have been the case,
undoubtedly. if they could have gotten
their hands on him.
The uttersnces of Chauncey M.
Depew and other distinguished Ameri-
cans of antagonistic political sentiments
to the deceased mayor, are strong in
sentiment and of unequivocal signifi-
canoe. They see throughout the nation
a repetition of the profound sorrow that
was evoked from all sorts and condi-
tions of men, at the cruel assassinations
of the humane Lincoln and the brilliant
Garfield; and while the dead mayor OF
the Lake city was not of their political
faith, the deep dsmnation of his taking
off was accomplished in 80 cruel and
cowsrdly manner that they readily up
lift their voices to join in the dirges OF
decorous grief which echoed through
''the sober realm of leshess trees" when
all that was mortal OF Garter Harrison
was laid in the ever-equal grave.
1t is something for Chicago to be
proud of that her best citizens, sitting
as jury upon this foul and unnatural
crime, should disregard the ever-recur-
ing plea of insanity and hold this cruel
invader of kind old mans peaceful
home, to the very outer edge OF account
ability. Garter Harrison was no COM
mon man. He governed Chicago with
such signal ability that he rallied to his
support and endorsement men who had
never before thought of voting Demo-
cratic ticket, and who made him the
solitary exception in their lifelong de-
votion to the tenets OF Republicanism.
He may have been at times vindictive
as politician, but where will you fud
a man who has been 80 successful as he
was, who lie not more or less amenable
to this charge? Our word for it, to
succeed in politics man must punish
his enemies and reward his friends with
all the zeal OF loyal nature. The
'possum politician who fears TO oust his
antagonists and place his adberents in
office, will have very brief inning as a
placeholder himself. When he once
goes out of Office. he becomes the most
private of private citizens, with none
30 poor as to do him reverence"
1t is creditable to Chicago that jur y
OF her citizens has convicted the muir
derer OF this sterling and worthy man.
Had he been killed in California town
under similar circumstances, perhaps
the came mawkish sentimentslity that
interposed itself between the bandit
Evans and the gibbet, might have
Injured to the protection OF Prendergast
from well-merited doom. The evil
dence against Evans was as clear as that
against Prendergast, yet Evans was
given life sentence froEl which he is
already free and at large.
Had the jury cquitted Prendergast.
it is quite probable that the Doole army
of cranks would have been by this time
all on the war path. armed with agriev-
ance in one hand and q big navy rsvol
yer in the other. Cleveland would have
been shot or stabbed by some disgrun-
tied seeker for consulship at Petro-
psulowski; and Governor Markham
would have been dubbed to death by
some rejected applicant for San Fran
cisco whsrfnger's billet. On the whole,
the conviction and sentence OF Prender-
gast is good, and the sooner it is carried
into effect the better. 1t will teach
people who have crank" relatives,
the expediency of keeping them in safe
places where they are locked in cells at
sundown and kept away from firearms.
The world will be no worse for Prender-
gast's death by the rope. and decent
people, who abhor murder, will breathe
freer for it.