The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1878-03-29
[For the CoLuNBIAs.l
THE EXPEDlENCY OF CAPITAL PUNISH
MENT.

The question of the expediency of capital
punishment has had fair chance in our
midst, of either negative or an affirmative
demonstration, in the triple execution OF
Monday last. | take it, that a large majority
of the citizens of this, or any other communl-
ty, would not question the rightfulness OF
capital punishment as vndication Of the
law and measure of righteous retribution.
But the sentiment Of the public may not be as
unanimous upon the question of the erpe-
diency of it, in view of its attending train OF
evils. That there are serious evils connected
with the execution of the death penalty,must
be confessed by any one who has observed the
morbid interest of large part OF our com
munity, which began several days before the
execution, and eliminated in the eager and
excited crowd of fifteen or twenty hundred
people outside the prison walls during the
hours of and / on Monday morning. The
throng was not within any limits of either
age or or SEX Women aud children men and
half. grown boys were on the tip toe OF ex-
pectation, eager to catch the sound of some-
thing going on within the walls, and all the
while discussing every imaginable detail OF
the revolving spectacle, from which they were
properly excluded. The day of the execution
will live in the memory Of many boys OF our
town, not as a day of expiation and misery,
but as day which afforded unexampled op-
portunities of sightseeing and excitement.
The impression of the day on their minds will
be one of absorbing interest, rather than of
painful sorrow.
Closely allied with this baneful impression
on the youthful mind, are the generally ex-
pressed sentiments in regard to the prisoners,
exhibiting them in the role of receiving inju-
ries, when in fact they were only suffering a
Just punishment. A disposition to lionize
the men, positively made itself felt and wa'
upheld by scores of people. This was but Q
, natural outcome of the universal talk abou
the impending execution, which was ever pres
cnt to the public mind. The last act in
tragedy always leaves more vivid impress
sion upon the average mind than the first
1t would be hard to say who received tn
, greater share of tender consideration in tn
| common talk of the town-the innocent vic
tim or the brutal murderers. believe tha
A one of the greatest evils attending the exc
4 cution of the death penalty, is the misplace
). sympathy of large class Of people. 1t
!. this that makes so many advocates Of the al
q clifton of capital punishment, ard in larg
measure neutralizes the beneficial results thi
d should follow its execution, Vis: the din
10 mutton of murder and crime. Crime will il
T crease in proportion. to the disposition OF tf
is public to shrink from the execution Of a swi
n and commensurate punishment
N IF, therefore, capital punishment could
"a administered without its attending evils,
r.. beneficial effects would be largely increase
w 1t seems to me this would be possible, if '
no had in each separate state, single local.
q where all executions should take place. 7
II novelty and excitement in such locality wor
be soon wear away on account of the -frequer
nd of the punishment, while the effects upon
of neighborhood from which the criminal 8,
If forth, would be what they ought to be-
,Is wholesome restraint upon the lawless-t
~, absence of any popular demonstration and
70. silent acquiescence of hundreds Of good p
pie who in the excitemnnt Of the hour,wo
:, always express undue sympathy with
~ murderers.