Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1873-05-01

The quostlOn Of Capltal punishment
has been . continuous subject of dis
cussion since our memory runneth not
to the contrary. II has formed the
subject Of debate in probably all the
Young Mems Lyceums that ever main
tained working organization for the
period Of 8 months. The professional
man, the merchant, the farmer, the
mechanic, indeed everybody discus
ses and has discussed this question
In the main the result Of all discuss
sions upon It has torned out very much
like discussions upon religious tenets
among different churchss, viz: leaving g
the disputants and hearers in the same
opiniet1 still. We have therefore kept
hands %; 10 rule, upon this question,
not because we, have not an opinion
upon the subject, bat because the in.
tsrninable discussions upon it for .
score Of years, have. seemed to leave it
just - far from a-solution as ever. It
10 well perhaps, however, At this time
when II IL 80 prominent . question, to
pay some attention to it. The FREE
qusnt and terrible murders Of the past
few years and the evasion Of justice
BY their perpetrators, has aroused the
public mind until hanging has come
wonderfully In fashion, and beyond
question - q consequence, hardened
Williams tremble and Quake with fear
when they are in bonds for crime
Tho stern unrelsnting character of
public sertinent hasa wonderful effect
upon governors, conrts, prosecutors,
and juriss, and through them upon
the vicious. It n Against our theory
that the fear 81 pnnishment alone ever
made any man better at heart; it is
anotherand entirely df6srsnf principle
or element pf moral eoSefhmsnt that
A6s6ts desires and motives; while.
however, this p 70. fear, may prepare
the way in some form Of other for the
action. qf other proper elements upon
the heart 10 hAve radical effect; that is
to ~, fear mayso curb for . time the
Arey steed Of vice u. to enable the true
element Of reform to make . lodgment
in the breast.
Intks Imperfect affairs Of this world
the best Ane spdn theory viii not al
ways 1T and even moro, will mot in
some cases at half the tipe, Persons
wearing the human form sometimes
.esm Ito 81 b iahately oonstitption- |
my is1d irresvtossbly trSts, snd at the |
same tims 80 cunning and wary, that
the safety Of good people 4 sndangers
cd 20 longsss such persons live. There
seems to be not few Of such, men
who, not mentally deranged, will take
the life of their Fellows coolly aud de-
libersaely, or will Get on tire, dwellings
wherein men, women and children
msy perish from the flames. We have
always thought and do still think that
frequent cases Of such character trans
pirs when tho best remedy Is to stran-
gle the culprit and while we would
grant courts and juries great liberty to
lnhict q mildsr remedy, yet we would
not sweep sway all authority to take
life for crime.
As we have before said, the execu-
lion Of numbers of men recently has
those in prison, charged
with murder; and II the vicious men
Of the country could be convinced
that the same severity will certainly
continue, we can have mo doubt but
that 1t would stay their hands from
crime good deal. Men always have
hope while there ialife and ss con-
sequence, no punishment short of TAX
ing..life, hass one-tenth the terror that
1t does to evil doers; and therefore the
restraining Influence Of the one is by
Just 90 much the stronger than the
other. iase
The Chicago Tribune sent a special
W pFksE, -