Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-09-17
ADEQUATE PROTECTION.


There Is much talk now In the press
about the necessity Of providing more
adequate protection for the President Of
the United States. II is pointed out
that the law presorIbes severe penalties
for assault upon mail carrier, while
President Is placed in the same cate
CORY as a private citizen. The statute
referring TO persons carrying the mail
provides that;
ANY person who shall rob any car
rier. agent, or other perFon entrusted
with the mall. Of such mail or any part
thereof, shall be punishable by impris-
onment at hard labor for not less than
five years and not more than ten years:
and II convicted a second time Of like
offence, or II In effeoting such robbery
the first time, the iobber shall wound
the person having custody OF tho
mall or put his life IN jeopardy by the
use Of dangerous weapons such Offend
er shall be punishable by imprisonment
at hard labor for the term OF his nat
ural life"
To jeopardize the life Of mail car
rier, then, Is to take the risk Of a life
sentence at hard labor. while to as
sault the chief executive OF the nation
Is to be liable only to few years inn
prlsonment, unless death comes as a
result OF the attack.
There seems to be some inconsistency
In this. The mail carrier certainly IS
entrusted with important public and
private interests. but none Of more i'm.
portance than those placed In the hands
of the President. The latter communi-
Gates with governments N behalf Of the
nation. He negotlates treaties, subject
to proper ratification. He commands
the army and navy, and ia the head Of
the diplomatic and consular corps. His
personality his craftsmanship. his per-
sonal Views and incllnations are Of the
utmost consequence The qualifications
for the highest office Is not a matter o.
Indifference to the people. For this
reason II seems natural that the In
cumbent should be specially surrounded
with safeguards.
There is no doubt that the country
is facing an Intricate problem. II the ut.
erances during the last days OF leading
AnarchI1,s have any significance. IL Is
that they are the enemies Of law
and order and all who represent gov
eminent, and that they sanction muir.
der as legitimate opposition 10 lawful
authority Their warfare though they
strike down persons IN office. IS al.
recied against the office. The question
IL to meet that fact. II the Office can
be surrounded with greater safeguards
the present conditions certainly dc.
mand that II he done
This win require congressional legls-
lailon, The President Of the United
States now occupies the same position
before the criminal law as the hum.
blest private citizen. His murderer
must be tried under the statutes Of The
state IN which the crime was committed
or course II convicted of murder in the
FIRST degree. the extreme penalty win
be the same. whether inflicted under
state law or under law ~ ne United
states, Bur II 81 he Offence Of attemp
upon the life OF the chief Executive Of
the nation with which ~e ought 10 deaf
And the argument seems complete. tina,
II Congress may losislate Tor the pro
lection Of carrier Of the mails. Il can
also surround with Of least equal pro.
lection, the person Of It's Chi.f Magis-
traie who occupies position OF SO
much mere value to The Republic.
But kings and emperors have been