Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1872-02-17
9allas Aerald.
=
.JOSSELYN,
EDITOR.
Modes Of Punishment.


II was settled long time ago that the
object Of punisbment was to prevent the
recurrence Of crime an not n retaliation
for on injury done. In considering, them
the various modes, which have been devils
ed and practiced, the main question is
what are most likely to prevent the CON.
mission Of orime7 The general answer
obviously 10, those which will be most
dreaded by sinful humanity, such as make
the strongest impression on the mind and
are certainly best calculated ID effoct the
object in view. Hence the penalty Of
death, in some form, has been fixed by
most legislators in all ages Of the world
for crimes of ths first degree and darkest
dye; fer denth is of all things the most
dreaded by the humah family. Say what
you will of the horrors ota life long itR-
prisonment in solitary cell, with diet
Of bread and water-of the agony of mutt
lation and toritro--of the dreariness and
pain OF never ending labor at the galleys
or else where-thcre is not one man in
hundred that would not prefer any of these
TO death. Eeeh to unbelievers in future
state of rewards and punishment the dread
Of the unknown is terrible. Bealdes,
death puts an end to all chances. With
out it, there is the chance of escape,
by cunning, force, or bribery there is al
SO the chance of pardon. by the executive
power or by the effect of revolutionary
action in a change of riilef5. The old
saying is, while there is life, there is hope,
and 80 there is, and we all feel 1t TO be
true. The death penalty is then wise
one and should not be dispensed with. The
substitution, in its place, of imprisonment
for years Or for life, is working much evil
So 90, the abolition of the stocks and pub
lie whppings and brandings, as relics of
bal barism and Offensive to the delicate
taste of modern lines, has, in our judg.
ment, done harm. Crime OF sll kinds has
been VIGOROUSLY on the increase ever
since n false philanthropy has been incif-
ing ~ mpathy for criminals and opposition
to capital pInishments. From the way
some of these modern progreasionis's talk
and #rite one would come to the concu.
sion that he State WAS a monster for pun
ishing those veft interesting people, who
lie, steal, rob, rape and ihurdet. Tlair
prisons are visited, they are interviewed,
complaints are made Of their accom- moda-
lions and bad treatment generally, the
public sympathy 10 inT6ked, flowers are
sent to decorate theft cells, luscious fosd
and drinks are provided f5r them, while
the poor victims of their rdacdiiy and
fiendishness tte left to suffer with poverty
and, perhaps, public contempt. All thsis
sh"meful and demoralizng in the extreme
If we would have order and peace through
out the country, we must go back to the
old modes ofpunishment. We believe the
old way of whipping and pulling in the
stocks and hanging for great crimes was
q good way, and to he commented. When
o man has so far sinned rs TO commit a
deliberate murder, he has given proof that
he iJ hn unit subject for society, and So
eiety ohght nbt to be at the expense or
,roubis Gf Saatdits Him let him be hung.
So Of house-burniig and rapes. For les
ser crimes, let him be made tc work for the
public, OF whipped and made public ex-
ampls in ibe stocksI or even branded, that
the world may krow Him for togue and
beware of him. Talk Of reformation The
man who commits perjury once will do it
again, If sufficient iuducemrnt is pre-
senied. The horse ilief viii steal when.
ever he gets another good cliaiice. Why
should he not he branded, that all may be
on their guard against him? foC Say this
is an awful thing TO be marked and
shuned by everybody Ifso, then lei 81.
beware how they commit the crimes thus
punishable. There is no necessity for
them to lie and steal There is class of
population in this country, to whom im
prisonmeut without work is no punish.
ment. BY it they are enabled TO get better
fed than usual without labor and without
care short confinement is nothing to
them il has no terrors, under the circum-
stances, il is rather invit,ag. Public
whipping and hard work on the streets cr
roads for the public, whose peace they have
disturbed or property injured, would do
some good and prevent the repetition of
criminal acts. But we tase already made
this riicle longer than we intended. We
iheaht simply TO call public attention to
this subject. All progress is hot improve
ment.