New-York tribune., 1873-03-15
TOPICS OF THE TIME.
CAPITAL PUN1sHMENT-AGAIN.

The revival of the discussion of means OF
-eventiOn OF crime has brought the topic OF eSpia'
pshment prominently before the country once more
IA yese H1uea Palladium makes up summary Oh IAols
and figures bearing the expedienoy OF captal puSn
rsnt and concludes that the experience OF cvihzeu
ons TEACHES that IL will before long be unknown As
The difficulties in the way. The Palladium has tins to
say; -,
,.osonment after the excitement OF the tfal
- convictou Is ended there reYulslOn OF teeilng
he friends OF the murderer remain quiet for few
years the criminal is well behaved ana IN due time
EDder- hearted Legislature ia found, and justice Il
cheated Of her In dread OF result like this the
people. especially when murders are many, soIe" @ uI
fheir courage demand execution, and postpone re
rets until after II has taken place. The shfung char
acter public sentiment and the manner IN Whcn l Is
cneoed in verdcts OF jurIes not pleasant sub
3ects OF drought. We doubt II the time Will ever
come when public opinion VIII De eonss'ent npS
20 hanging criminals, and this IN part accounts n
for the nuctuating character OF murder urls1s 10,
chance a jury found 20 convict stokes, @ Du'
the OF Scannel whose crime was As 1Iut $500 ~
wellbe imagined the jury was hopSiessy Iai pleas
an question OF he and death are esleenIiSs
1lS he removed by the substitution Of imprisonment
FOR life in place OF hanging but we ieei sur tas
would more often agree and II az the same Ie tne PP
oiS ne ucsted ont OF false sympathy with prisoners
the ends OF justice would be the better seNs & % @ 6
che death penalty stands the We ye4u
70 none n our desire have the law stTlctf ehoIoo
The sp,ngfed Republican thinks that great deal or
wholly irrelevant argument has been expen1ed III some
handing cases IN NewYOrk. It fals 70 see Wnere Tue
,vinepeSs OF the wife OF Fosters victim 70 see Fos
Ter hanged can possibly affect the question Of his hang
n 40 long As there are other people who ride on street
cars and who object to being Drained by the casual
rufian. II adds:
II capta punishment be needless and necessity is its
and defeat self-of both which propositions we deoid
edly take airmative-then, in the name OF luslce
snd the public welfare. let the people say 30, ana no
Dner enact the solemn farce OF the death sentence But
,be tins or any other penalty stands on the statute
D by the peoples voice, and the sacred authority OF
law and The sworn verdict OF the jury ana the nal SEN
fence OF tAe unite 20 apply II In any case then IN
the name Of Justice and protection ana consistency Ie
n be executed and let the inmates Of murderers row
and all he roughs settle down TO appropriate re-
dectiOus-
The HarfNrd Coiranf adds its contribution TO the dis
cussion in the form OF protest against Gov DIX being
obliged 70 shoulder the responsibility in the Foster case
winch the courts decline II thinks that If Foster is
sne fellow, respectfully connected. and could have
od paoe i'm society II he chose 70 assume IT, and that
sse facts furnish reason Why he should not be hanged
s law ought 10 take notice Of them not the Governor
The Ootranf adds:
Hanging Is not for 1t is for the protection OF
so-etV n Foster were hanged u would De plainly IN
rstopd that there sort Of murder that Is disap
pr1ved New York, and that Is fOT drunken man
fl another with car-hOOk ana that people coulu
ride I'm street cars I'm peace certain that no intoxicated
man would rely upon money OF friends Tor ilDpuhlY ID
~. murderOus freaks. Perhaps no Oue under any cI
cumslucrs ought 20 be hanged. But II Is perhaps not
ursasonahe % say that this should be settled Oy the
To- eutroaty OF friends the compassion Of tue Gov
arm M