The Sun.
London, England, 1853-10-12 00:00:00

length as to render a public investigation neces-
sary, and to bring down the tardy vengeance of
the law upon the offender.
But, although we recognise the validity of
these arguments, we cannot think that they are
conclusive on the question. They certainly show
that the enactments now in operation are not
adequate to the emergency. But that is the very
point with which we set out. We acknowledge
the severity of six months' imprisonment with
hard labour, and believe that if the offenders
could realise the full extent of the penalty, they
would endeavour to curb their malignant passions
in order to avoid the bitter expiation. But
men of the class by whom such offences are
committed do not understand the nature
and effect of a prolonged imprisonment. They
look upon it rather as an avoidance of
their daily toil, and are accustomed to dwell
with malignant satisfaction on the fancy that their
unfortunate wives who, during their absence, must
endure the deepest privations, will suffer more
than themselves from the execution of the sen-
tence. It is true that they acquire very different
notions from experience, but others of their class
have not the benefit of that experience ; nor can
they estimate its actual severity until the burden
falls on themselves and the yoke is placed on their
own shoulders—no addition to the period of in-
carceration—no more stringent provisions while in
gaol would suffice—even if the mantle of Lieut.
AUSTIN descended with double virtue upon all his
fellows, and the brutality and cruelty of the gaoler
far exceeded that of the prisoner, it would not
suffice. The punishment, to be effectual, must
be speedy, and must be of the nature of the
offence. It must be painful—intensely painful—
and disgraceful, holding up the offender to public
contempt. The lash—brutalising and degrading
as we know it to be--the infamous cat, coupled
with the stocks and pillory, will be found the only
suitable avenger—the only efficient preventative.
We feel all the objections to its use—and as we
have repeatedly declared, would banish it from
the Army and Navy, from every place
where a single spark of honour still remained.
But, the wretch that coolly maltreats wo-
men and children, those weaker than himself,
and incapable of defending themselves, or of re-
torting on the aggressor, is worthy of no con-
sideration. Not a feeling of sympathy can be
excited on his behalf, nor is it possible that he
can be rendered more degraded than he has been
by his own actions. Let him be flogged, soundly
and heartily flogged—flogged like a craven, yelp-
ing hound. Let his crime be exposed, that he
may feel the contempt of all. Let the children
point their fingers at him as he wends his
weary way along, and thus the rising generation
will be taught to abhor the crime that leads to
such fearful consequences. Let the power,
although summary, be guarded by every possible
precaution to avoid its abuse. We regret to say
that there are Magistrates on the bench whose
decisions should be subjected to revision before
being allowed to be carried into execution, and
therefore it may be that it would be essential that
a new tribunal should be established, or at all
events that the sentences should be carefully
considered by a higher authority before the cor-
poral punishment could be inflicted, but nothing
else will be sufficient to arrest the evil. The
remedy that stopped assaults on the QUEEN will
alone prevent acts of violence against her female
subjects.