Trial of Czolgosz

     Many suggestions have been made by prominent citizens relative to the conduct of the trial of the case of the people against Leon Czolgosz. A correspondent of the News, who signs himself “Justice,” suggests that the trial of Czolgosz be conducted with the design of completing the work as soon as possible; that the judge, jury and attorneys all consent to a long session regardless of fasting and fatigue, in order to finish up the case without adjournment.
     This is a suggestion which will receive much unthinking applause, but should not be carried out. The law is no respector [sic] of persons. The law is supposed to be supreme, serene and impartial; to execute its processes regardless of the personality of those interested in the questions to which it applies. The trial of Czolgosz should be conducted with celerity. All criminal trials should be so conducted. The trial of Czolgosz should be orderly, devoid of hysterical incidents, free from the clap-trap of blatherskite attorneys, dignified, and in all respects in keeping with the solemnity of the proceedings in which a human life is at stake. The trial of Czolgosz should be conducted along these lines. There should be no attempt at undue celerity, there should be no extended sessions of the court, there should be no departure from a sane, a regular and an ordinary procedure. By doing all things in this case according to law, according to precedent, according to well-established rules of judicial procedure, by jealously safeguarding to the prisoner whatever constitutional rights belong to him, the majesty, the might and the resistless course of justice will be best emphasized.
     And that is the object of this trial. There should not be one incident in connection with it attributable to public clamor or passion.