The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-08-10

~ Entered January q. 1903 81 Rtcnmono.
va a. sscond. class matter cadsr act 81
i Congress OF March !. is7a
"WEDNESDAY. AUGUST 20. 1910,
nor DOWN IN EGYPT THIS TIME.
Yesterday morning the Mayor OF tho
Il second largest city in the world was
shot down by an assassin on board 1
a steamship in New York Harbor me
victim was williamJ. Gaynor and the
assassin was James j. Gallagher,
discharged employee OF one OF the de-
3partments of the city government. The
assassin Was arrested by the police
and the Mayor was rushed to the hos
pital.
Some weeks ago the world was
startled by the speech OF a distin-
guished American on visit to a
Foreign country declaring that the ad-
ministration OF justice in that country
had failed utterly because, under the
inauence of patriotic" passion, the
Primo Minister OF Egypt had been
slain by an assassin. The implication
was that If the English were as ut
for the government Of the country
under their control as the Americans,
such a crime could not have been COM
mitted. Many of the English and Ma
tionn4ists and fellaheen pre- sent prob
( ably did not recall at the moment that
s this speaker, bearing upon his shoul-
ders the burden of reforming the earth
even to the uttermost parts thereof,
was himself made by one of the most
infamous crimes ever cc:a mitted in
the history Of the world.
This incident is only noted here for
the purpose of, suggesting that the
rest of the nations have something to
learn from the United States in mur-
der as fine art. According to the
latest statistics we have at hand, the
average number OF murders annually
committed in the United States during
the twenty years from 1883 to 1904
was 6.5a7. In 1896. 1862 murders Were
committed in the United States, and
In 1895. 1880. In italy. 5000 MUIR
der,ers were tried and 2.s05 were con-
yicned. In Belgium, l32 were tried and
St l01 were convicted; in Spain, 1,5s4
were tried and ,0s5 were convicted
These countries are named because W.
are accustomed to regard them as no
SO highly "civilized" as the Unitet
e states. "In Germany Gin 1860 tn,
81 convictions equaled s5 per cent. and {
Il 1raction:.tin the United States. 1.3 pei
cent
r We are not the most civilized peo
pie In the world. Life Is not so SAT-
81 In this country as in many of the
a& II other countries which we much deride
property is not so Well guarded here
las in many other lands. Three Pres
ladents OF the United States have beer
assasstnated-Ab Lincoln. in
Etime or great war excitement; Garfield
fas the result OF factional dissension II
This own party: and Mckinley. At tn
sclose of the Columbian Exposition
Carter Harrison. the Mayor OF Chi
fcago, was slaans The Governor
idaho was assassinated because OF tn
smob spirit which had been encourage
tby organization. Now, GaynorIis she
Edown by discharged employee OF tn
hEreat city whose affairs he has mai
aged with great ability and courag,
What is the lesson OF all these ter
ftble tragedies? We do not know, es
sl cept that the law is not enforced an
}that lawless mon in high official sta
zion have taught the people that whe
1.-THE law stands in the way OF the &C
accomplishment OF some possibly worth
fpurpose the law may be disregardet
the law may take care of itself. II 1
fpan. As
ii The Gaynor case Is not case G
Ehow the English have failed down i
IEgypt: but OF how we fail In tn
UNITED States The shooting of Gayno
h may be punished; 1t Is not by an
means certain that 1t will be. "Es
scnuating circumstances will
s i1ound. It will be shown, possibly. tha
he used threatening words or was &C
+ fyancinE upon the assassin when h
was compelled to fire. feeling that h
N personal safety was imperiled. Ga
4 8ssi lagher is doubtless poor man an
/ mas family dependent upon him X
55s support and was deprived OF Il
means for their support by this har
man, who ordered his removal fro
oftice Religious and family and soci
and partisan pleas VIII be made Il
S33a the delivery of this poor assassin. ".
was driven to desperation and sh
down the Mayor In moment
emo tional insanity. There are thol
4 " sands Of cases like 1t. and the we
\ lows will ..play 1t up" until the publ
Will be convinced that in shootir
Gaynor the assassin did a noble act.
Is the United States civilized?
8 l - -
THE ~. NJ. I, RECORD.
The report or CAPTAIN p. D. Loo
ridge. of the United states Army, d
IA "a