Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-10-09

Only two more days intervene until the great
political battle In the west. one of these days
Is sunday. but II anybody suppo5es that the
commanding officers OF both political armies
will cease their activity TO attend religious
services, they are liable 10 be badly mistaken.
The reports from Indiana are conflicting, in
vartably eOlOred to accord with the political
opinion OF the writer or sender Upon the
whole, however, the information Is favorable to
tie democrats, and they Will In all probability
carry the state, possibly by somewhat re-
duced majority. There are reasons for the
assertion that Mr.. Porter Is stronger than
his party In Indiana, but 10 Offset
these IT must be remembered that the
presidential election Is brought to
the front in Indiana; democrats are admon-
ished that Ia voting against Lander5, or even in
refusing TO vote for him, they are striking a
blow at Hancock who Is confessedly very popu-
lar with the democracy of that state There
fore 1t Is likely That many democrats who would
rather see Porter governor than LanderS will be
induced TO vote for the latter rather than
weaken the prospects OF their presidential ticket.
In Ohio the drift Of the last few days has been
decidedly toward the republicans, and they
Will, 10 doubt, carry the state by safe ma
1ority. The democrats are as determined and
aggressive in that state as the republi-
cans are In Indiana This Is accounted
for by the fact that the majority party
in each state considers II important to keep the
enemy engaged across the border, In order thai
no democratic force may be spared from Indiana
TO help Ohio and that no republican aid may be
spared from Ohio to reverse things In Indiana.
In both states the cry of fraud can be heard
above the din OF the contendlng forces. Each
side charges the other with the importation OF
voters, schemes to bride and corrupt election
officers, and in fact everything that Is out
rageouS. Sharper5 and roughs from Phila-
delphia and other cities have been carried into
Indiana and Ohio BY the managers of both
parties, each contendlng that the purpose
OF this movement Is to watch the other
and prevent frauds. II managers on
both sides want a fair election they can
obtain II, and wherever attempts to corrupt the
ballotbox may be made II Is to be hoped the
parties engaging in it and those who encourage
1t may be discovered and punished no matter
what may be their politics. All good citizens
are willing TO submit to the result of fair
election; all are opposed to fraud, no matter by
whom perpretrated With Indiana democratic
and Ohio republican next Tuesday. the october
elections Will settle nothing, but the decisive
battle will remain to be fought In New York.
From sentimental point OF view, there Is
undoubtedly great deal TO be said against the
infection Of flogging or other similar corporeal
punishment for violations OF the laws. On the
other hand. experience has shown thai there
Is no form OF punishment so much dreaded By
criminals, and that there Is therefore probably
no other agency equally effective In REFRESHING
crime. A curious illustration of~the latter
point was recently furnished in the trial In
London OF the brute Perry, who robbed and
tried to kill fellow passenger In a compart.
that city. His sentence of penal seryitude for
twenty years failed to bring from the prisoner
any look or expression indicating the slightest
feeling, but when the judge concluded by say
iD9 that he was to have thirty Iashe5 In addI-
ton the hardened wretch gave such a blended
cry and groan OF terror that i1artieulate
though IL was, left no doubt on the minds
those present as TO how much more he dreaded
the bodily punishment than the other porto
OF tie sentence, which at the worst meant ONLY
an enforced absence from the country, wit b
comparatively light labor. plenty of food, and
comfortable clothing.
Another illustration In the same direction was
afforded by the professional experience OF
distinguished English barrister, who had all his
liie been opposed to the infllction of fioyglng
fl any case, put who became convert to that
form OF punishment as deterrent of crime uu-
Der the following circumstances: He was de-
lending big, bullnecked man for burglary,
and In the middle OF the trial note was put
into his hand from the prisoner. asking: "Can
they fog me, sir? He looked across at him and
shook his head, whereupon the gentleman in
The dock, with a sigh or relief exclaimed, Then
i don't care" There Is, as we said above good
deal OF sentimental objection to flogging, and
perhaps some based on broader foundation:
but. in view OF such facts as these, it becomes
worth while Tor society to decide whether 1t Is
Lot wise and necessary TO waive these consider
atoms for IT'S own protection. Its first duty Is
to care for itself, not 70 study the wishes and
comfort Of criminals III 10 the discharge Of
this duty hard lines are made for the law
breakers, so much the worse for the Law break
ers. But meantime they have the remedy In
their own hands They can cease to be law.
breakers.