Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1901-09-27
THE CORVALLIS GAZETTE.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 1901.
COMMENDABLE.

The assassin Czolgosz has been
promptly tried and convicted and
will speedily be placed in the
chair and quietly and
humanely killed. Throughout
the entire proceedings there has
been no display of mawkish SYM
pathy eor hysterical sentimental
ism. A competent and impair
tial jury was easily secured, able
and conscientious counsel con-
Quoted the defense, and every
right of the accused was carefully
preserved In brief, the trial
was a plain, straight forward and
seasiblc inquiry for tie truth,
simple, clear and concise charge
to the jury, and the prompt rem
dering of a just verdict. The ac-
ton Of all concerned in the ar
rest, detention and trial cf the
prisoner is to be most heartily
commended and stands in strik-
ing contrast with the discred-
liable conduct of Guiteau's
trial. The reason for this is
not difficult to find. It is not
in any difference between the IL:
lustrious victims, for each was
beloved chief magistrate. 1t is
not in the act of the perpetrators,
for each played the sneaking,
cowardly assassin. in daylight,
and in the presence of many
ready witnesses. 1t is not in the
law, for in each instance the law
was the same and the necessary
provisions for vindicating it are
practically identical. The differ.
ence is the result of a public
sentiment now existing which
declared it would not submit to
such disreputable proceedings as
outraged it twenty years ago.
1t is doubtless true that public
sentiment has been more insist.
ent that the violated law should
be vindieated in the speedy met
ing out of stern justice to the Of
fender because of the prominence
of the victim, but this should not
be so. No less violence would
have been done to the law had
one of the guards of the president
been murdered. The law de.
nominates the deliberate killing
of a hod-carrier murder, and
Furnishes it as such. Neither the
crime nor the purpose is any diff
ferent though the president be
the victim. The law should b.
vindieated and its just pena1tie.
inflicted as promptly in one in
stance as in the other.
We hear much Of the INSULT
cheney of law to reach and punish
crime. 1t has little or no found
alton in fact. We have Law
enough; rather, indeed, too much
What we most need is a propeI
administration of our laws. W.
see in this case what right
earnest public sentiment may &C
complsh. So it may, so it should
in every instance. Under ou,
form of government there must b.
a compelling, vigilant public
sentiment back of every law OF i
will be loosely enforced, or no
enforced at all.
As against anarchy, we have
no specific law. We have very
efficient laws against many
phases Of it, however, and if we
insist upon the faithful admins
tration of these we shall soon 81
lence its blatant oracles. It re.
mains that we have no adequate
law to protect the life of eul
president and other high officials.
We have given these just the
same protection we give to any
citizen. We now see that they
are menaced by peculiar dan.
ger. We must do more to safe
guard them. We cannot afford
to exchange with anarchists, life
for life-a Mckinley for a venom.
Gus human toad. We must dis.
cover and render harmless these
who are only too willing to play
the assassin's part. We will dc
this and public sentiment must
support whatever measures are
necessary to do it, even though
such measures are exceedingly
vigorous and severe. We must
not resort to any sort of mob law,
but, having adequate laws, we
must calmly, promptly, unre.
lentingly enforce them.
The only thing these human
devils understand and fear is
force-everpowering force. They
do net comprehend moral force.
Physical force backed by moral
force is a combination before
which they cringe and sneak
away.
Since we see how desirable and