Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1869-07-16

" because the miserable testimony of his
associate degenersted into ppesarication,
1t is simply malicious to charge upon
Gov. Chamberlain the responsibility Oh
an act plaiuly implied by the, LAW, sup
ported by the action ofthe legislature
and approved by decisive preponder-
ance of public sentiment. On the other
hand credit is due him for his agency in
making the punishment of the greatest
crime specific and certain, and thus doing
much to add 20 the sanctity of human
life.
Evidently the time has not yet come to
abandon capital punishment. We think
ten years ago the feeling of the people OF
Maine was well along in the direction of
trying the experiment. But an eviden,
increase of crime, the experienced dan
ger of combining violent men in prison,
as shown in the murder of a warden in
Maine and in Massachusetts, and perhaps
the general hard-heartedness hegotlen by
familiarity with death in our terrible war,
produced revulsion, and in that time we
have revised our own opinion upon the
whole question.
There are whole sects among those
established. who, with their clergy, be.
lieye life for life to be one of the revealed
laws of God, \ majority of men trained
in legal studies and connected with the
administration of justice, favor severe
punishmcuts. Many enlightenedwomen
believe the fear of death has "a strong eff
feet upon the minds of brutal men to de
ter them from such murders aS that at
Auburn, \ majority OF Democrats, forced
generally into conservative positions, by
their long controversy wirhth radicals
seem to favor severe punishments. Fl
nallv Il few extreme frce-thiukerS, like
John Stuart Min, taking rather sad views
oChuuau destiny, and not finding in the
optimism Of Univcrsalism satisfactory
solution orthe problem ofproyidence, IA
yor the death punishment from anunder-
estimate of the value of human life.
On the other hand the liberal sectS, the
radical men, the philanthropist>, the
CHEEKY and hopeful men, the sentimental
men, the men who carry the >anguine-
NESS OF youth through life, as classes,
think capital punishment cruel. nnncces,
say and uuchris;iln,
- .ar as public opinion has found cN-
preston in is, ordinary channels, the
former opinion seems TO have been the
stronger; that i, two successive lcsisia-
lures. chosen without reference either to
the abolition or retention of this code.
have refused hy decided maioritics to alb
rogatc il. \ discussion more intense and
specific would have doubtless found both
sides well reinforced with reasons, and
lett them each pa>>ionalcly confirmed in
their original opinions.
This condition of the question i not
surprising. Massachusetts and Vermont,
well abreast. irnotahcad OF Maine in gen
eral civilization. communities that mean
To silt all questions to the bottom, and
Get the rish, of them ifthoy can, have not
dispensed with hanging
Let Us bc patient. Time sof,cns MI
thiags. Manners will grow mildcr.
Better culture and better care for All will
lessen the number ofmon capable Of com.
hitting great crimes. Better heed to the
laws Of life will prey ent the birth Of dis,
tolted and mon>trous mistakes of men.
We shall feel strong enough, wise enough
and i2rgi,iug enough to spare the lives
of those who mos, terribly iuiure Us.
Meantime for our own State, we think
there is little disposition to reopen the
question. 1t was Deutschland written up
on in the legislatures and in the press
last winter. till lis mention put MI candor
to flight, and made every man put mp his
back With rcsolutc determination 10 stick
to his conviction. Let Us postpone the
discussion Tor ten years. and meantime
endcavor to make the law, rs 1t stands,
a. salutary a. possible Let Us not defeat
the wholesome terror OF Prescribedpnn-
i>hment and make j, nugatory by telling
bad men that no slayerol his fellow man
in this State will ever be executed again
but by assuring them that the wiliul tax
inc OF human life will be sure TO forfeit
their own.