The Washington herald., 1910-08-21

ISM newspapers. with one accord, forbOre
any description Of the crime or Of the
court proceedings. Sometimes even the
very name Of the man was left unre-
corded. the reports as published merely
mentioning that the court had been called
upon 70 deal with a crime punishable
under a certain act OF Parliament, and
that capital sentence had been pro-
nounced.
If some such scheme were adopted by
the newspapers with regard to the assas-
sination or attempted murder Of rulers,
chief magistrates, and public officials.
there would be a far smaller number OF
these outrages TO deplore Justice could
be readily safeguarded without the re-
port Of the case IN the press. and we're
the crank to realize that in endeavorlng
to take the life of one in authority he
was consigning himself. not to lasting
celebrity, but to an oblivion as complete
as that which the English press helped
until forty years ago to envelope those
mourning capital punishment for imprint
able crimes. the chief incentive 10 such
ouuages as that 10 which Mayor Gayuor
was subjected the other day would have
disappeared.
Moreover, 1t must not be forgotten that
when not only the periodical and daily
press. but even great poets, such as
swlnburne, and authors Of American and
English fame write glibly about the
necessity OF tyranny" such as that
popularity ascribed TO the Russian gov
eminent being tempered by assassina-
ton" and claim indulgence for the muir
derers of Muscoyite imperial personages.
statesmen. and governors. on the plea
that the crimes in question have been Of
a political character, outrages Of this
kind are practically encouraged thereby
here in America
For II Mayor Gaynor was shot az 81
was because his assailant was prompted
not only by his egregious vanity and lust
for fame, but also because he regarded
the chief magistrate Of New York as the
representative OF the "despotism" TO
which he considered he was indebted for
the loss Of the employment that had pro-
vided him Tor so many years with his
daily bread.
In France there is a statute Furnishing
with death attacks with murderous intent
upon public officiaIs, when engaged in the
performance Of their duty Il has beer
more honored in the breach than in the
observance in the past but is now about
20 be REINFORCED by the government. ar
the instance Of Prime Minister BRAND
owing 10 the large numbers OF member.
OF the Partisan police who nave beer
either killed outright or manned for life
by the savage 'Apaches-' who infest the
French capital
II is a pity that some such law could
not be enacted in this country; If not by
the nation. at any rate. by the various
States. After the assassination OF Presi-
dent Mckinley, II may be recalled that
an endeavor was made 20 secure the en-
actment Of a national law. providing
death for the attempt upon the life Of any
Chief Magistrate Of the United States
The measure failed 10 secure enactment
on the plea that the attempted assasslna.
ton Of the President was no more Sc
rious than a murderous attack upon ar
ordinary citizen.
But an attempt upon the life OF n,
President is a crime. not against an in
dividual but against the nation. and
should be punished as such by special ma
tional law, just as the counterfeiting O.
money. postal frauds. and smuggling
The law should be extended so as 70 safe
guard in similar fashion the member
Of the Cabinet and the officials Of tn
Federal government. ana IN the sam,
way each State should take steps 10 Sc
cure legislation OF a similar character:
legislation POSSESSED by the French re
public, on the ground, first Of all, tha
public officials. especially when in tn.
performance OF their duty. are exposed
to risks Of a far more serious characte,
than ordinary citizens, at the hands o.
criminals and cranks; and secondly. be
cause murderous outrages Of this kline
are oEenses. not against the individual
but against the commonwealth.
AS the matter stand now, and assum-
ing that the recovery Of Mayor Gaynor
continues his assailant will escape with
I a more or less brief loss OF liberty. In.
deed, it is by no means certain that ever
if the mayor succumbed TO his injuries
his murderer would be sent TO the cleo.
trio chair. Probably some plea would
be put forward TO the effect that he was
not altogether responsible for his &C
lions. and he would escape with a period
! Of detention in some lunatic asylum
from which he would subsequently bs
turned loose upon the community anew
as cured"
The penalties at present imposed upor
Offenders Of his stripe are altogether toe
light. and the means OF evading then
too numerous to constitute any deter.
rent to the crime
Thus Luigi Llccheni. the assassin O.
Empress Elizabeth. has recently beer
visited in his prison at Geneva by the
explorer Harry De windt. who found
him, not incarcerated in a dungeon. but
In light and airy room. overlooking the
beautiful lake. enjoying an abundant
diet, a pint Of wine. and a package OF
cigarettes daily, and employed in book
binding. the work, however. being purely
voluntary. His room is furnished com
fortably. with well filed bookcases. a
writing table. electric light. the walls
being covered with picture post cards
including two representing his victim
Empress Elizabeth. and her widowed
husband, while he is allowed all the
conversation ana communication that he
cares FOR with the other convicts.
Col. Maschin, who personally murdered
King Alexander. Of servia. and Queer
Drsga, under circumstances OF the most
inconceivable brutality in 1903. died only
the other day at Belgrade as a high
dignitary Of the servian army and OF
King Peters household having in snit,