, 1877-05-13
a LESSON N CAPITAL PUNISHMENT,

That peculiar class of senti1nontalists who
choose to expend their surplus emotional
powers and drain their lachrymal ducts over
tho scoundrols who go about murdering their
fellow-crcatures, may turn with advantage to
the history of capital punishment in the
State Of Maine for q startling illustration Of
the practical working Of their pet theory. A
controversy betweon tho Portland Press and
tho New York Nation has brought out the
facts, which arc interesting and valuable to
those who consult Judgment rather than emo
ton Us guide to law-making. The State of
Maine has population not largely in excess
Of that of Cook County, SO that the operation
OF its laws can be very easily and very &C.
curately ascertained. Maine started out in
1920, when 1t was admitted to the Union,
with strict law for capital punishment for
murder, and this law was enforced with good
effect till 1887, when it was SO amended as to
leave its enforcement optional with the
Governor. From thnt time till 1864,
"a term of nearly thirty years.
no execution took place in Mime,
and the crime of murder increased at rate
that made Maino notorious about the year
1860 on that account. Between 1864 and
1870, one or two Governors wore elected
who chose to construe the law for the bene-
tit OF the community and not for the benefit
of the murderers, but thereafter for several
years there we're no more executions. In
1875 the extent Of capital crime was such
as to impel the Legislature to restore the
death-penalty, and the now law was fol-
lowed BY two executions; during the whole |
of the following year there was but one case
of murder, and then the murderer killed |
himself Immediately. But in 1876 the sen |
tinontalists agnin got control of the Legis-
lature and repealed the law; tho murders |
began immediately. and already eleven of
the most cold -blooded murder cases are of t
record
It is Impossible to escape tho con-
;lusions Of this direct and straightforward
evidence Of the effect Of the law. During
The first seventeen years Of the existence Of
Maine as State, there were but two convic-
ions for murder, both followed by execu-
ions. Then for long term of years the
murders were exceptionally numerous and
trocious; this was before rs well as during
md since tho War, and at time when there
sns practically no law for capital punish
nont~ Following this carnival of blood,
here was not single murder during IN
entire year when capital punishment had
een restored; and Immediately subsequent
o this, there we're eleven horrible murders
'ithin less than year after capital punish
1ent had again been abandoned by the
legislature. The lesson of this bit Of listo-
? is certainly very plain one. It means
nat the death-penalty is q powerful restraint /
n the evil passions, and protection for t
uman life. Whatever individual opinions |
lay be as to tho restrictive principle Of the
[osaic law, the safety of society and SANG
ty OF human life is consideration enough to |
lstify law TINT assures it to IN extent so
arked as this. Without any regard to the
chrymose arguments, it is sufficient to prove {
at the death-penalty prevents murders, b
st as the killing Of mad dogs prevents ths Il
fection of the human kind with fatal poi 4
Il, and it should be retained to that end Il