The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1878-05-18
Tho whipping Post,
, nm Edllnr of The nernIdl

asa more 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 30 revolving TO
common humanity, should be the prom,
lnert issue in the canvass, and the only
one worthy of the exalted consideration
of the master minds now seeking office,
may be Justly regarded Ms 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 establishment 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, tho
division OF the state, the repeal of the
obnoxious smoke-house law, the repeal
or amendment of the road, banking,
and other laws, the amendment to the
code, 80 that continuances may be
granted within the term, from time to
time, when necessary, that our ,jails may
be emptied, and many other great ques.
tons there can not be found n topic so
fit to be advocated as the bearing of the
back to the lash.
Have our candidates made 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
blooded by the whip Will this chars
acteg of punishment deter the commis-
sion of crime2 Will it be more eflioa-
cous in reforming the offender who is
submitted to its degraton2 Will it exS
ert refining influence upon society
Will its humaniaing influences be such
as to commend itself to the lion-hearted
sons and compassionate women of this
the grandest of commemorative ? Will
the doctrine Of the whipping post be in
scribed upon the democratic banner2
If these questions can be answered
anirmatively then those candidates who
favor the measure represent the intelli~
gent public sentiment Of the county and
state and will receive a hearty endorse.
ment.
90 not believe in barring the back
of white or black, of either sex, to the
lash upon principle or policy. 1t would
virtually be law for the wealthy but
punishment for the poor. 1t is ter>
rible sight to witness the execution of
such law. Let us draw brief picture
of the whipping post, erected in the
public square, and, for the sake Of hu-
manity, assume that it is man, rather
than woman, who is the offender.
The expected day has arrived, and an
anxious and motley crowd has assem-
bled. The populace wait for the hour
with intense interest. In the throng
will be found the old and young of both
sexes, a motley crowd of ignorance, de>
basement and vulgarity. Around the
post is laid the handouts, manacles,
Cat>o' enine-tails, brine, sponges, etc.
The executioner brings forth the victim,
he is strapped to the post, his back laid
bare The scourger sends alott the LASH
and down it comes upon the quivering
flesh, blow after blow the body writh-
ing under the inhuman torture the
blood begins to flow, the flesh is lacerat-
ed, the groans Of anguish is so revolving
that the most brutal lookers.on sicken
at the sight, and turn away to leave the
scene, Disguised
The last blow is given; the sentence of
the law is complete; its majesty has been
indicated. The jeers, SCOTS and Kisses
Of the canailte, were food for the filters
ate, the groveling and the vulgar. A
poor compensation. What gifted pen
can describe, what classic pencil portray,
Or what mind so grand as to grasp q
title of the evil consequences, misery,
ruin and debasement that would flow
from such unholy legislation The vicN
tim whether guilty or innocent, is a
moral and social leper, an outlaw, a
desperado smarting under the lash, the
eyes of all piercing him with scorntul
glances, his manhood gone, his heart
filled with malice. Better turn upon
the community an uncaged lion, for,
like the hyena, man thus treated, thus
outraged, would prey upon whatever
might come within his reach, his hand
raised against all. The penitentiary,
the workhouse, poor farm or public
roads, will give time for his anger to
disappear and to reform. Will our can
didates congratulate themselves upon
such progress in REFORM
As a citizen, | protest against such
experiments, such sickening and savage
brutality. As a democrat, protest that
that great party cannot embazon upon
its banners this emblem of barbarlsm
and not deserve the excavations OF the
world. 1t is an abortive attempt to
turn back the mighty tide of civiliza-
ton to the days of the inquisition, star
chambers, courts of high commission
whose weapons were the rack, the vince
the pincers and the whip.
THE flesh will culver when the pincer
The blood will flow where the knife ii
driven"
Let society beware CT those whose
flesh has quivered under the lash. a
decent regard for state pride, a respect
iul Difference to the opinions OF thu
grandest intellects of the past and pres
ent, the press with its almost omnlpo
tent power, will hurl its thunderbolt
against it. 1t will meet with an un
compromising protest from the pulpit
High moral ideas are closely interwovel
INTO the spirit and genius of our instlt',
lions. Let those ideas and laws whlcl
oeautify and soften society, and thos
sentiments which the heart owns ant
the conscience approves as the prope
exponents of charity and justice re
main. Let us not sacrifice the unbough
grace OF gentle laws, the muse OF nool
sentiments, to sicxly and polsonou
carnations of diseased brain. he
spectiully, JIM THURNoND.
6urderous and Damnable Law.
Mrs. Kate Southern, the Georgia mu