The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1873-04-25

gers missing, who may have been carried
out to sea. The cargo was examined and,
large portion of can be saved The
situation of the vessel is in many respects
bad for the divers, but the work will be
continued, when the weather permits, with
five divers and sixty-fiye men.
Who Commits the Drunkard's Crime!
The wordy discussion over the fate of
| the car hook murderer in New York has
left some points in great prominence before
the public mind. 1t cannot be denied
| that we are in u drift which sets away
from capital punishment. Perhaps most of
| the governments of Europe are already
committed in this direction. The same
tendency is fast growing upon our own
| people. 1t is quite possible that hanging
will he abolished before many years and
perpetual imprisonment be the greatest
terror OF the murderer. We cannot blind
ourselves to the prospect, although we CON
template it with extreme dread. We be-
| lieve in hanging the murderer, for the one
reason that the Bible has taught us the
stern terror. And then we think the dread
of the death penalty is indispensable to
stay the murderer's hand.
If society must lose its moral tone, and
give way to the weakness which pities the
criminal while it forgets the victim, then
be it so. But we look forward to disaster
and general insecurity of life as the conse-
quence. 1t is not unlikely that this NOR
bid tendency of society will have its full
sway, and that the reaction will bring the
next generation back to the Bible view of
the punishment of the murderer. 1t is
| nt moi int inl, "a IN
discuss.
The real issue of the hour seems to be
stated in the question at the head of this
article, Who commits the drunkard's crime !
An innocent man is sent into eternity in a
moment by one blow ola drunken wretch.
| The murderer is tried and convicted
After exhausting every form fappeal, aid
after nearly two years of delay, the telon
stands gazing at his doom.
But now the most powerful pressure is
brought to bear upon the Governor to COM
mute the death penalty to imprisonment
for life. The one great argument tormercy
is stated in three words-He aOas drunk
Hence he was not responsible. He was not
able to premeditate. He struck as a bear
strikes, with mere brute force. He must
not be held accountable. One of the first
lawyers of the land argued that if that
man were hanged it would be "for great
er crime than he in fact committed, and to
avoid the repetition of such an act of injus-
tice the aggrieved sentiment of the public
may demand the abolition of the death pen :
atty entirely Suppose we grant the
point for moment. Where do we find
ourselves2 The corners of our streets are
mostly occupied by the shops of drunkard-
makers. On every side we see men reeling
along. They are in the street cars. They
are everywhere. 1t is proposed to concede
the claim that these drunkards cannot com
nit murder. They may shoot us, may stab
our children as they return from school, may
invade our houses rs burglars armed with
pistol and knife But if these Thugs are
only careful to drink well ifthey are sure
of being stepped in rum il they go from
the scene of their slaughter reeing to their
homes, and there sleep out their drunken
craze; if they are only caught with the
demon Of drink still enthroned, they are
not to be held responsible. We must pity
them, acquit them, appeal for them and in
some way ward off the stroke Of punish
ment. We do not stop Just now TO discuss
this position. Grant it for the sake of ar
gument But now the stern question re-
turns, Who does commit the drunkards
crime2 There is surely responsibility some
where. We can hardly consent to be shot
down and murdered on the sidewalk, and
nobody be accountable. If the drunkard
does not commit the crime, then the guilt
travels back to those who make the drunk
ard. The sellers of strong drink who put
every temptation before their icllowmen,
knowing that they are making brutcs =
knowing that the price of every drink may
be the price of blood these men will by
and by be held responsible for the woes
and sorrows, the riots and murders, the
widows and orphans which are created 10y
their horrible traffic. If the doctrine that
drunkards are not responsible is admitted in
our courts, then let rumsellers take warn
ing that inquisition for blood will come to
their doors, and they will have to face the
COM equences Of their own selfish acts
This is result which we could contemplate
with satisfaction. The man who makes
his living by the ruin of his neghbors
ought surely to meet the consequences OF
his accurscd business
Let us make laws which shall trace crime
directly to the dens where it gathers its in.
SEPARATION. Let tho abused wife and the
neglected children, let the sufferers from
violence, let an outraged community be
empowered by law to bring suit and recov-
er damages from those who live by making
their fellow.men Irresponsible. The drunk.
ards crimes are surely crimes. Sooner oil
later society will settle the question, Who
, commits those crimes Presbyterian
whats the matter with Augustus q
asked one friend of another. He's gone
| insane !" "Bless me how happened that p
} why you see, he parts his hair in the mid