The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-02-01
Is THE LASH A SUCCESSg
Delaware Journalists Consider IL an
Important Question.


Important Question.
The Wilmington Commercial OF Saturday
edliorially says:-
Years ago, the whipping-post and pillory were
common methods OF puni>hmenJs everywhere.
The rack, the thumbsCGeWs, the Wheel and
others of The horrible en2ipeiy OF torture had
gone out OF use, but the public lashing aod
plllorying fingered later. They were of the
same brood of 0arbarous puuisnments, similar
In kind but less in degree. SO long ago as 1876,
of all the States north and east of Virginia, only
two continued to whip. these were Della ware
and Rhode Island. In the former 1t was for a
great number of otenses; in the latter 1t apOlied
to but one. Since 1926 evSry Sta:e in the Onion
has abolished botn the pillOry and the lash, -
save one. That exception is this State.
Now We affirm that this action on the part of
all The other communities in the Union should
be enough to convince US of the proprety OF
abolition. We cannot think that our little state
comprising the two hundred and tiftIeth part of
the American people, better understands the
true methods OF punishment than al of the
other two hundred and torty-nine. One standing
against such odds should surely pause and
inquire. The one juror who thought the eleven
30 stubborn had a large possibility of being right
compared with this case. But further, we
should consider that for more than fifty years in
Pennsy ylvania, for nearly i1ty in New York aud
Maesac husetts, societies of the most intelligent
and thoughtful citizens have given the subject
OF puni shments their careful study. They have
examined the origin of crime, traced the career
OF criminals, watched the effects OF the various
penalties. Till within year, Delaware has had
no such society at all. No one has studied,
with any care or persistency, this most import
ant matter of criminal reform. Is 1t reasonable
10 suppose that we, ignorant as we must be in
the premises, can know better than these other
StatesH
1t is conceded, we think, that the lash Injuries
the cuIprit. 1t hardens him, hurts his self
respect, degrades him publicly. The sole argu-
ment remaining Is that 1t protects society,""
But does IL We believe, on tue contrary, that
Of all the legacies left us by the slave system
now ren aiming imbedded in our laws and Gus
toms. this whipping and pilorylog does most to
injure the community. The laws of a State are
the embodiment OF its highest wisdom, its
puIest virtues its most thorough methods. But
this law is brutal, barbarous, and degrading.
Every man-even it's triends-feel this. They
may defend its utility, but they know perfectly
not only fixes a stigma. just reproach, upon
in the eyes OF others, but it positively affects
and Injuries the Christian character of our
people. More whisky is drunk, more oaths are
sworn, more vice is engendered, more crimes
are committed, more characters are lowered
from nobility into Vulgarity, this day in Della
ware, because of the law inflictmg punishment
by the pllloTy and the lash.
Is the lash success? Was slavery a success? !?
Was the cropping of ears, the Sitting of noses,
the branding with irons, q success?
No, gentlemen, the lash is useless; it is not
only a disgrace. but failure. Tue Gays of the
plantation scourge are gone by: SO are the days
Of this scourf ing by law. 1t does not repress
crime, but develops the sources whencs crmi-
mails come. 1t does not train men to higher and
holier living, but degrades their natures, whips
their manhood, pillories their souls. With all
our heart, we pray loI such light shed upon
Delaware from the divirity of CHRISTIAN mercy,
justice, and purity, as shall sweep into Oblivion
this relic OF brutal and barbarous times.