New-York tribune., 1901-09-13
rrFWS ABOUT THE CRIME.
TREATING IT AS TREASON.
Of The Tribune

.,s Editor Of The Tribune.
- No doubt you right in your interpre-
q. the clause OF the constitution providing
o.. a,,sason against the United States shal!
- a.. only In levying war against them, or In
sx-r,ne 70 their enemies, giving them aid and
-.,-.. II is a strict construction. but proba-
~ - permissible construction If not a neces-
g nne 10 hold that the assassination, or at
$50 assassination, Of the Commander-fn-
1',t the army of the United States is neither
- ~-..,.,,r war against them nor, in time of
a. least giving aid and comfort to their
enemies
'..ss,nation. OF even such an attempt. is trea-
- hv the common law Of England Cwhence We
~I.-.ea IT'D and was treason by the common
49, % America down to the time when this
..s.,,,,tion was adopted. II is equally true
-, the constitution seemed to narrow the def
-, or treason. not because the old definition
"a baen wrong, but only because Of that droll
.N.- If having another king replace the au-
.s,-,tv Of the one they had thrown off. which
.xes the first fifteen or twenty years OF our
.tu-ional history such violent we'll as
--a.ssoue reading for Americans of this gem
Grafton
r,. surely the tine has come when this great
- rouerful people will no longer consent that
-.au he less crime 10 kill the Chief Executive
aaoer Of a nation of seventy-five millions. than
soldier 10 lay a switch across the back OF
"a. orderly sergeant. If an amendment to the
.,s,,.ution is required, let us have IT. But
,.snwhile. if in time Of danger and sudden
.,s-eencv il was permissible TO make green
,cks a legal tender, in spite of the distinct
..,s.-utional requirement that nothing but gold
~ silver should be legal tender, or If now. in
,rs NJ profound peace, If is permissible TO shut
18th eyes 10 the constitutional provision forbid
ding an abridgement Of the suffrage on account
. ,see color or previous condition, why is II
-, aouallv permissible TO punish a monstrous
s,,,al for an assault at which the whole
vnJd shudders? Why must our strict con-
.,-uctiouists swallow camels. yet keep on for
,rsr straining at gnats?
o,s word more. Can we not have an end OF
,,. ssnheaded sentimental gush into which the
.-x,sricaI portion Of our population fall over
sv,-v criminal-insisting that he should not be
,-,sbed but reasoned with: that the object Of
-nr,shuent is not vengeance but reformation;
s,s that therefore We should coddle the Grim
.s, and measure his skull TO see if he is not
-..r,.rv unbalanced and then go work TO
80 cu-e him An eminent physician Of the last
,snerafion in New-York said a true word. that IL
.rsebes one 10 remember, after being forced
,n the last few days 10 witness the revived out
pou-ines OF these sentimentalists. DR.. Fordyce
Barker was asked on the witness stand, IN the
.risl Of Guiteau for the murder OF PRESIDENT
Garfield Are not these proofs OF insanity
The Doctors reply was prompt and mo-
they are proofs Of wickedness." And Guiteau
was righteously hung, If Czolgosz is not, II
will recall the ScripturaI declaration OF woe
AGAINST nation which enacts iniquity into a
lsv-even into its constitutional Law. Yours re-
snecrtuyv. ONE OF THE PLAIN PEOPLE.
Nsw-york Sept. 10, 1901