The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1878-05-18
Tn. whipping Pos,
To the Editor of The Herald:

To the Editor of The Herald:
One of the most remarkable phases
which the present canvass IN this county
has assumed Is the open advocacy, by
some aspirants, of the whipping post,
as a mere certain preventive of crime
as inducing reformation. and better
remedy Cor the expenditures which are
incident to the arrest, conviction and
punishment of offenders. That an issue
so insignificant, and so revolving to
common humanity, should be the prom.
inert issue in the canvass, and the only
one worthy of the exalted consideration
of the master minds now seeking office.
may be justly regarded as a Illuminating
spectacle to the refined, the wise and the
good.
Amidst all the mighty questions.
of state policy, finance, occupation tax.
frontier protection, Mexican relations.
internal improvements the building
of universities, the establishments of a
better system Of public free schools,
the letting of convict labor, the
location of the supreme court to suit
the convenience of the people, the
division of the state, the repeal of the
obnoxious smoke-house law, the repeal
or amendment of the road, banking.
aud other laws, the amendment to the
code so that continuances NAV be
granted within the term, from time to
time, when necessary, that our jails may
be emptied, and many other great ques-
tions, there can not be found topic so
fit to be advocated as the bearing of the
back to the lash.
Have our candidates made a fatal
mistake in forcing this issue upon the
people. or is it the prevailing sentiment
of Dallas county that the backs of her
citizens (men and women) should be
bloodied by the whip? Will this char~
acte- of punishment deter the commis-
sion of crime? VIII it be more effica-
cious in reforming the offender who is
submitted TO its degstion2 VIII il ex>
ert refining influence upon society
Will its humanizing influences be such
as to commend itself TO the lion hearted
sons and compassionate women of this
| the grandest of commonwealth Will
the doctrine Of the whipping post be in
scribed upon the democratic banner
If these questions can be answered
affirmatively then those candidates who
favor the measure represent the intelli>
gent public sentiment of the county and
state. and will receive hearty endorse
ment.
l 90 not believe in barring the back
of white or black, of either sex, to the
lash upon principle or policy. IL would
virtually be law for the wealthy, but
a punishment for the poor. 1t is ter
rible sight to witness the execution OF
such a law. Let us draw n brief picture
of the whipping post, erected in the
public square, and. for the sake of hu.
msnity, assume that it is man, rather
than a woman, who is the offender
The expected day has arrived. and al
anxious and motley crowd has assem-.
bled. The populace wait for the hosi
with intense interest. In the thronJ
will be found the old and young of boil
sexes, a motley crowd of ignorance. de
basement and vulgsrity. Around tn,
post Is laid the handouts, manacles
cat>o' -nine-tails, brine. sponges, etc
The executioner brings forth the victim
he is strapped to the post, his back laic
bare. The scourger sends aloft the lash
and down II comes upon the quiverinl
flesh, blow after blow. the body with
ing under the inhuman torture. tn
. blood begins TO How. the flesh is lacera,
ed, the groans of anguish is 30 revoltip
that the most brutal lookers-on sickel
at the sight, and turn away to leave tn
scene. disguised.
The last blow is given; the sentence G
: the law ir complete, its majesty has bee
vindicated. The jeers, scoifs and hisss
: of the eaHaihe were food for the litter
; ate. the groveling and the vulgar.
. poor compensation. What gifted pc
: can describe, what classic pencil portra,
!, or what mind SO grand ~ to grasp
z 1.-THE Of the evil consequences, miserl
ruin and debasement that would flo
from such unhoiy legislation The viz
o tim. whether guilty or innocent, is
: moral and social leper, an outlaw,
= desperate. smarting under the lash, III
2 eyes Of all piercing him with scornf,
= glances. his manhood gone. his hea
;. filed with malice. Better turn upo
= the community an uncaged lion, 10
like the hyens, man thus treated, ths
i outraged, would prey upon whstev,
+, might come within his reach, his han
u raised against all The penitentiar
d the workhouse. poor farm or publ
It roads. viii give time for his anger
II disappear and to reform. Will our ca
y didatea congratulate themselves upc
d such progress in REFORM
le Al citizen, protest against sue
70 experiments, such aickening and saya,
I brutality. As > democrat. protest tn
n that great party cannot emblasou up<
,e IL banuers this emblem Of hasbasis
d and not deserve the sxecTatiops Of q
d world II y IN abortive attempt
= - - Al n a -