Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-09-03

EotOr NGT:-In your editorial column last
raay evening theie were some CONN. alts
which l read with great satisfaction, mas
much as they called the attention OF your
readers to question involving no less a
consideration than the lives and the proper
ty OF every citizen in the country. After de-
ploring the pro Oable escape OF the murderer
and alluding with just severity 10 the ap-
palllng frequency OF such deeds, and the cul-
pable inefficiency Of our present system OF
police. you wisely declare that 1.-The crime
OF burglary should be made and treated
everywhere as a capital offence"
Permit me, sir, 10 offer TO the public,
through the medium of your wide circula-
ton, a few thoughts which, in my opinion.
go very far towards establishing irrefutaolv
The conclusion TO which you have arrived.
An offence against society, or. a. the philoS-
olbers have ii, deiictHyn SDci1ie. is breach OF
That state OF perfect order and equality watch
perNades all nature. and which must To-
promptly repa red 10y the supreme authorities
by the imposition of such penalty as Will com
pensate as near as may be the social boiy or
the individual aggrieved. III orier that This
restora ton of the. natural state of things
may be as complete as possible, the punish
ment inflicted must be exactly proDOrtioned
10 the injury received-hence the various
grades OF punishment, from the petty fine
ana imprisonment OF a few days, up TO the
death penalty.
Now with these considerations before the
mind, moments reflection will show that
the crime of burglary imports an enormtty
or so peculiar a nature that scarce any pun
Ishment, consistent with our advanced stage
OF civilization, can be discovered too severe
for its remedy. II is no less than a cool
deliberate violation of a natural right of the
most sacred Characteristic right of habita-
tiOn-an invasion which, in a state of nature
would have been met with instantaneous
death Accordingly, all nations, in all ages.
have concurred In regarding il as one of the
most fragrant crimes which inflict humanity.
The Romans looked upon il as unnatural
Visiting Us commission with punishments Of
exemplary severity, and Cicero denounced
holy n q
possession OF mantle right OF h1mc-ex-
claiming; tptd e1ltn', S01lc'iitS, qUid Onlni
jieSque ciUiunlr' The common law felt so
tender regard for the immunity OF a mans
house that il styled IL his castle" and ca st
animadversiOns of unreserved condemnation
even upon eaveSdrOppers. IN addition to
this essential enormity, burglary embraces
the ity-and indeed in most cases the
ceriainty-Of murder; for never does bur
gar enter dwelling unarmed and without
the determination to use those arms if de-
tected, and 10 effect his escape even at the
sacrifice of life. Often, too, the sex, and the
unprotected condition OF his victim, arouse
even baser passion, and deeds are done
which even the press Of to-day, with all its
RIGHTEOUSNESS. heSitates 10 record.
Such being the nature OF the crime, LET us
see II there he any circumstances attending
It's commission which may palliate IFS helm
BUSINESS or excuse its penetration. All
writers on criminal law agree that the main
CONSIDERATIONS determing the extent OF pun
lsEmert are three, viz: ID. The nljSchieTous-
ness of the Offense; (2). The facility OF its
commission; and 81. The provOcatiOn.
Now, sir, moment VIII be sufficient to
show that the burglar is entitled to no one of
these extenuating pleas; for what prOvoca-
ton can there be 10 incite the able-boiied
Nlgilant scOundrel to make war upon the
lives and homes of PROSTATE manhood, I'M
offending age, and helpless innocence: what
can there be more difficult 10 do than deed
which has to deal with bolts and bars, and
Which seeks the cover Of the darkest night
FOR its commission; and what can there be
more mischieyOus in its consequences both
immediate and remote, than an act which
calls down desOiatlOn and grief upon whole
household, and endangers life, property and
what is dearer than both, the honor OF our
sisters, our mothers, End our wives!
Tie ultimate end Of all punishment is to
prevent crime. #, then, experience has
shown that the established penalty for an
Ctlepse Is insufficient FOR its eradication, il is
The duty of government 10 determine upon
something more severe. There con be as
little doubt that the now obta ming law for
there is that the crime itself is on the in
crease The daily papers come to Us with
reports OF the most audacious burglaries and
atrOciOus murders which have been perpe-
trat6d IL the very hearts of our cities, and TO
which the police can find no clue. Men OF
learning, wealth and position are slaug entered
IL their beds, and nothing to tell the deep
damnHtlon OF their taking orr but the bloody
iron dropped by the villains in their fiight.
Deeds are done with no witness save the
silent stars and the eye OF God, the remem-
brance Of which fades away and leaves
them mysteries Of the darkest dye, which
man VIII never penetrate, and which a
stricken conscience only can reveal. But let
the gailows cast its shadow, black as night,
across the paths Of those who do these deeds
an obstacle which cupidity will find IL hard
10 surmount :.