The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-04-05

a tooth for a tooth, but l say unto
you that ye resist not evil; but
whosoever shall smite thee on the right cheek,
turn to him the other also" Again. verse A,
'But / say unto you, Love your enemies,
bless them that curse you, do good to them
that hate you, and pray for them which
despitefully use you and persecute you, that
ye may be the children of your father which
is in heaven" Here we find that Christ re-
buked, in explicit terms, the very code of
blood from which "Citizen" has been quoting.
And this Rev. "Citizen," feeling the rebuke
which Jesus gave to all 'retaliationists, OF
which 'Citizen" is one thus tries to evade
the force of the rebuke which he cannot but
keenly feel. He SAYS
'Do they the anti-capital punishment mea
direct us to that system of inimitable ethics
delivered upon the Mount? We readily acknow-
ledge its force and obligation, but we fall 10
perceive the analogy. The first emoodies purely
Christian graces, the legitimate growth OF re-
newed and sancti6ed humanity, and are applica-
BILE to our personal relations the latter is civil
enactment not vindictive but exemplary, and
growing out of the demands OF justice"
In other words, what Christ enjoined upon
us as individuals should not be observed in
governments; that as individuals we ought to
love and forgive our enemies, but as govern
ments we should persecute and hang them;
that in our personal relations we should strive
to become angels, that in governmental policy
we may act like demons This may be one
phase of Christianity, but if it is, it has
reached depth so profound that common
sense will never be able to reach it.
''Citizen" says:-'The crime and the pen
atty are inseparable, and what God hath
joined together let no man put asunder.'"
Let us amend by saying, "God breathed in
mans nostrils the breath of life and (uniting
breath and body he became living SOUL"
''What God hath joined together let no man
put asunder." 'Citizen" speaks of ''the de-
mands of justice" This word justice is a
vague term, and has been used the world over,
as a cover for all sorts of atrocities. Con-
stantine drowned his wife in o vat of boiling
water; beheaded his eldest son; killed his
father-in-law murdered his two brothcrs-in-
law; slew his nephew, only twelve years old,
and put to death the Pagan priest who re-
fused to give him the consolation of his reli-
gion. Then Constantine became concerted
to the Christian religion and put to death tens
OF IuOubduuS VIII lSluoCN1 w DCllONO' anu dll
these atrocities we're perpetrated in the name
of justice and Christianity. Nero and Cali
gula, whose crimes are unparalleled in the
history of the world, committed their a5roci-
ties in the name of justice. Henry VIII, of
England, destroyed half dozen wives in the
name of justice. ''Bloody Mary" prosecuted
the Protestants in the name of justice; and
Justice in turn prosecuted the Catholics in the
person of Elizabeth. Justice compelled the
Puritans to leave England for the Western
World, where they could have freedom to
worship God," and freedom to hang and
Danish the Quakers.
Justice inspired the French revolution,
known as the "Reign of Terror" and in its
name were men and women led to the
''stake," the Crack" and the ''wheel." JUS
Ece prompted John Calvin to burn Servetus at
the stake because he disbelieved the ''Trinity."
Justice hung "witches and wizards" at Salem;
and to-day human beings are strangged to
death in Pennsylvania in the name of jus
hce. The red men of the forest have been
nearly extirpated in the name of justice. A
village of Piegan Indians has been recently
destroyed by our Government, and innocent
babes, and little children, and helpless women
have been indiscriminately slaughtered by
United States soldiery and in the name of
justice. And this great crime will be remem-
bered in infamy, with General Sheridan, who
approved the massacre, as the ''fgure-head"
of the atrocity.
There was never an Infamous crime perpe-
trated by any government upon the face of
the earth, but Justice was first consulted. The
of mankind. 1t has ever been the plea of
tyrants and the 'watch-word" of assassins. 1t
has scourged the earth with fire and sword,
and has been the cloak to every conceivable
crime which human governments in their in
genuity could devise; while ''love, "mercy,"
and charity have been crucifed that justice
might live.
1t is great consolation to every true Chris
tian, however, to know that Jesus Christ
never used the word justice in single in
stance, nor did any one of His disciples, nor
can the word be found anywhere in the New
Testament. So much for justice.
There were thirty-three offenses punish
able with death under the Mosaic code.
Human society, in its march towards higher
civilization, has abrogated the death penalty
for every offense save deliberate murder.
Allow me to ask Rev. "Citizen" whether
civilization" had the right to ''blot out" the
penalty of death for any of these crimes ??
If not, then we must put to death the person
who picked up sticks on the Sabbath day.