St. Landry democrat., 1879-08-02
'FSse Death Penalty.


Two prominent men. lately conylcted
of the crime of murder in the first degree
one of them a citizen of Georgia and the
other u citizen of kentucy, have been
sentenced to Imprisonment for life. Per-
hans this punishment satisfies the rela-
tiyes and friends of the murdered men,
but does it satisfy the demands of socle-
ty? The object Of punishment is not
vengeance, but to prevent crime and cN-
neriencc has taught that the only way to
obtain that object is to make the pun
ishment swift, sure and terrible. There
is q respectable minority Of the people in
every community who are opposed to
cauital punishment. That minority is
not. prehaps, larger to any other than 1t
has been for years. 1t is large enough,
however, to exercise % percept1hle IN
fluence, and in some OF the States mas
succeeded in securing mOulilc;ltloh OF
the laws relating to the death penalty.
In Iowa, Il few years ago, the law pro
viding for capital punishment was re-
pealed altogether, but the crime OF
murder became SO frequent almost I'M
mediately thereafter, that the lcSiSia-
tnre was compelled to re-enact it. In
Georgia the law has been so modified
that the Jury has the power to make the
nena)ty death or imprisonment for life.
Aston secured his modification, and his
murderer was the fist to be benefited
bv it. In Kentucky the jury has the
same power OF fixing the punishment,
and this right undoubtedly saved Blu
ford from the gallows. There We're
two men Oh the jury which convicted him
who were opposed to the death penalty,
but they would not have been there prob
ably. had it not been for this provision
of the law. Many men who would hesl-
| tate to commit murder when the punish
ment is death, would scarcely hesitate at
all when the epunishmentisim is imprisonment
for life. The prison walls have few ter
rors for them, and, besides, they believe
that a pardon OF something else will
intervene to Iiberate them after q short
imprisonment. They have very good
reason for the belief. Statistics show
| that, on an average, those who are I'M
prisoned for life remain IN prison only
about seven years. Petltlons, or some
technical flaw in the pleadings, secure
for them a pardon. Who expects that
either Cox, of Georgia, or Buford, OF
Kentucky, will remain in prison for
! life ? Judging from the history OF such
eases they will be free men in Il few
years. Does this kind of punishment
| check the crime of murder? The eX-
perience of Iowa shows that it does not
| The only proper punishment for muir
der is death. 1t alone has terrors which
appall the human mind. 1t is the pun
| ishment which has been meted out tC
murderers in all ages and in all coun-
tries. 1t meets the highest idea Of jus
tice and has proven the most effective
check to the premeditated and wilfu]
taking of human life. Those who op;
pose capital punishment are influenced
more by sssickly sentimentality about
the sacredncss of human life than by
any sound reason. They do not con
slider how necessary it is to protect
society. 1t is good thing they are in
the minority, and are likely to remain
there, or else there would be a dozen
murders where there is one now. Where
a man takes human life deliberately
and with malice aforethouglt, he must
yield up his own life to pay for it.
When the gallows has done its work he
can do no further harm, and his fate
teaches lesson that is not soon for
gotten.