The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1879-05-08
LETTER FROM OLNBY.


To THE EDITOR OF THE NEW NORTHWEST:
10 your journal of the 10th of April,
noticed an article, written by Burnham
Wardell, of New Jersey, from which 1
clip the following:
II the wicked are turned into hell with all
those who forget God, hell must be a very large
place. "As / live, saith the Lord, have no
pleasure IN the death ofthe sinner that repent
eth, but rather that he should turn and live,
II God hath no pleasure in the death Of a re-
pentant sinner, why should man Why
should Christian societyF especially after the
one who is 10 be choked 10 death has become
a pure, good Christian, with his heart full of
love 20 God and man, actually praying for the
hangu-an who is adjusting the rope about his
neck. is this in harmony with the demands Of
Christianity I think not Why should this
man be killed eff thy brother trespass
against thee seven times IN day, and seven
times in "a day turn again TO thee, saying, re-
pent, thou shalt forgive him."
The article was headed "a capital
communication on capital punish ment, -
thus giving il at least the appearance Of
yourendorsement. The hequotation given
sounded so strange and unfamiliar that
1 took some trouble to examine my con-
cordance and Bible in search Of il. The
nearest approach the most diligent
search has made to IL is the following
Ezekiel S3:lD: "Say unto them as |
live, saith the Lord God, have no
pleasure in the death of the wicked,
but that the wicked turn from his way
and live" The writer appears to mix
up his ideas on the question he attempts
to explain, seeming to be opposed to
both Christianity aud to hanging a hu-
man being for taking the life Of fell
low being, because we are taught to for
give a common trespasser that repents
seven times.
The principle Of forgiveness Is a noble
one, but the principle Of preserving hu-
man life is superior to that Of forgiving
the one that willfully takes away human
life. We may forgive the criminal, but
he has forfeited his life in taking that of
a being or brother. In doing so,
the law fulflls the first principle of
self-preservation for human lie. Hu-
man nature is such that experience has
taught that repentance in view Of the
I gallOws is not a safeguard against a
repetition Of the same crime. But "why
should this man be killed ?" He has re-
I pented and become Christian; why
not imprison him for life? Several OF
the States that have experimental on
that Utopian idea have been compelled
to erect the gallows aud choke to death
the murderer, not for the purpose OF get.
ting rid Of the murderer, but in conse
quence OF the mildness Of the prison peu.
atty and its influence upon such as are
disposed to commit the crime. Chris
tian professions and dogmas give Nc
projections against drunkards, liars
thieves, robbers or murderers, hence IN,
honest, moral, virtuOus and religion.
element Of society must unite to protec
its own existence. The law Of self-pres
ervation is the only one that can be re
lied upon, hence it must conform {,
rules, mild or severe. The halter is
terror to evil-doers. The prison is not
Penalties are designed to be reformator,
upon the violator Of the rights OF others
In the case Of taking life every other lif
is exposed. The halter is the most com
mon instrument and the most effectua
safeguard Of life among civilized ma
tions. Among the savage tribes, tn
knife, the arrow, the rifle or a deadl,
poison is the instrument Of death.
The writer Of the article under consid
Grafton appears, like many others, t.
think that the God who created an
peopled this little earth, and set it an
its accompanying planets in motion
, cannot find a place in his universe t
confine those who rebel against his be
nevolent designs. He forgets that tn
same God who created life and though
for him has established, first, the law O
love to care for, feed and clothe him
and that the same kind care is over hin
in all his unbelief and waywardness
Notwithstanding he is inclined to doub
the capacity aud existence of such
being and law Of love, aud makes Pile
against the God that gave him life, an,
then attempts to plead for life that ha
violated the first law Of love and takei
the life Of fellow-creature. The law @
life for life is the only safe law Of life
But Mr.. Wardwell asks, when the rop
is about the criminals neck aud be foI
gives and prays for the hangman, 81
this In harmony with the demands q
Christianity ?" We answer most as
suredly, it is. The crime is committed
none but the criminal should suffer tn
penalty. Respectfully yours, y.
Olney, Oregon, April 90.
A northward immigration Of enoI
mana aaUuifuda IL liEaIy 20 faEa r,Ioo