Arizona republican., 1908-08-30
PHoENX, ARIZONA, AUG. 30, 1908
HAS IT COME TO THIS?

Harry K Thaw in the role of cen sor. posing as an authority on men | and morals, is distinctly novel and | would be interesting were it not so outrageous. Reference is made to his recent utterance from an insane | asylum prison cell. given wide pub licity by the Associated Press The | interview is not regarded as repre- | hensible on the part of Thaw but it's offensiveness was in its acceptance | by such a reputable institution as was made the vehicle of its dissem- l ination.
 The world recognizes the right of every man to employ every legal means to retain his liberty, or to se- cure it again once it is taken from him, whatever his offense against so- ciety In this instance a possible motive of Thaw is very easily traced. Repeated efforts have been made to restore his liberty. They will con- tinue to be made until it is accomp lished if that result is within the power of the friends of Thaw. He has faced the judges and the jury, and the most strenuous efforts of Jerome K Jerome to break his neck. In further proceedings he will have the moral support, the disinterested concern or the open enmity of the courts in which he has been tried. He would love to have the first but he at least hopes for the second as against the third. He has secured the best possible out of MT. Jerome and the courts. It is but the part of a clever, calculating man for Thaw to defend their integrity now and give them any recommendation he can, hoping to at least buy their si
 lence in respect of himself.
 But what of the interview and its moral effect on American institutions and American sentiment and one might even say American govern ment, irrespective of any merits of the Thaw case, which are not in the least concerned in this discussion? ly securing a conviction of insanity to evade its just punishment. He has broken the highest law of God and man. In the moment his revol-  yer clicked his citizenship departed and he was not henceforth to be considered as having responsibilities, powers or judgement in the conduct of human affairs, save only as they concerned his personal rights under the law. Henceforth he was to be dealt with by society and not as a part of society. He was outlawed, disgraced, removed from human coun- cils except in respect of himself, un- til citizenship should again be re- stored, if ever. Escaping punishment through alleged responsibility he man. If reason has returned he has no business in an insane asylum. If he is still crazy what must the world think of a nation that pauses in its judgment of men high in civil coun- cils, to consider and weigh the opin
 ions of a lunatic concerning the dis charge of their duties. When Harry Thaw has been officially restored to reason and to citizenship through payment of a just penalty for his crimes, if he still be a man of weight and influence, the Associated Press and every other bureau of in formation should be open to him, but not until then, save where his own case is concerned. And only by the previous notability of himself and family. would there be warrant for the latter.
 Sensationalism is doubtless the plea of whoever is responsible for the story. assuming that it was not in
 stigated directly in the interest of Thaw as a part of his campaign for liberty. But this ground is equally as defenseless as any other. Sensa- tions are sought for by the press for to quote a trite saying they raise hell and sell papers" But they must be legitimate sensations. Startling criminal stories are printed for their unusual or surprising features. The Thaw case for instance and if Thaw would have been a very important rows item. But what must be the state of the public mind, what the portent to civilization, when comment