The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-07-02
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT.

on the gibbel, answered the requirements "
the law, was victim, If we may use tb.
word, of capital punishment. The question
arises In the minds of many citizens, Gu
bono? This question of the policy and tn,
efficacy OF pltal punishment is one that has
agitsted tho minds OF men everywhere time
and again for many ages, aud some Of the
wisest statesmen rs we'll rs tho most thought.
full philanthropsts of all countri's have
labored for its adjustment, and with success
In some localities. 1t is urged that death as
apenalty for crime is relic OF the barbarous
ages. The first crime committed on earth
the record tells us, was murder and the came
record tells us that the punishment WAS no,
death, but the Punishment of Cain from tn,
presence of his family and his kind to To,
land Of Nod, virtual imprisonment fol
life and this was the penalty imposed by TIT
Father of All. the DIVINE Ruler Of the Uni
verse. Can there DO better precedent, Q
wiser rule, established by man? Punish,
ment for crime is an outgrowth Of society, .
necessity for its safety and well-being, and
while society lasts, with its mulli,utnol
requirements, crime will exist, and while
crime exists there must be penalties of some
kind to follow. But as tho ages roll by and
the peoples OF tho earth progress and ad-
vance In civilization aud in learning, and in
oil the reanements and elevate ms OF mir
aud heart, it is but reasonable and philoso.
phcal that the means for the suppression OF
crime and Of wrong doing on the part Of the
vicious and evil,duposed who do not keep
pace with this advancement and develop
mont, should DO in keeping with the better
and the nobler influences that prevail. The
time was when men charged with or cons
victed Of grave oifenses were made 10
enter into combat with fierce wild
beasts, either to prove their innocence
by victory in the encounter or to receive
punishment for their wrong doing by their
defeat and terrible death. And then there
were wsgers of battle where tho accused was
forced 10 meet the nearest friend of the
party slain, or the party himself if wronged
in any other way, and his success or defeat
was taken as evidence Of his guilt or inno-
cence. No one IN this enligh.eded ago will
pretend to deny tina. this was .barborous, or
shat it woud bea process worthy OF our day
and time. Even in our own country, and but a
short limo sgo as compared with the worlds
lifetime, custom prevailed to ito women
charged with witchcrAft in sacks and ,hen to
throw them into mill ponds and deep
streams Of water to test the truth of the
charge. Ifthey were drowned they were
inn;sent, and if they escaped u watery
death they were guilty for only witch
could escape tied up in q
sack, and then death by fire at the stake
awaited them. But our age has progressed
beyond the cruellies Of such custom, be-
yond the cruel,ies of torture by are, of death
by breaking on tho wheel, beyond tho hor>
rors Of decspitstion, Of death by the knou.
or bsssinsdo, of drawing and quartering, and
why not, II Is earnestly asked, do we not
dispense with death entirely as a punishment!
It's claimed, aud II seems TO DO a most Just
and reasonable claim, that the true object Of
punishment should DO the reformation of the
unfortunate whose evil passions have 90
dominated - to lead him into derelic,iop'
Into ousrsges against society and into crime.
This ID ostensibly the object when the Law
makers deaoe what arc derelictions and
crimes, and the aim 10 to make the penalty
10 accord with the gravity Of the otfsuse II
II beimprisonment, the length thereof to give
the more time for reformation and TO inAu.
ence Others from similar acts. In this
state there are but two offenscs,
II We mistake not, for which the
penalty 10 death, murder In the
ars. degree and another nsmeless crii6e
more hcinous than murder, and In these cases
death or imprisonment for lifo s option
al with the jury. lf,ho penalty DO op,iona
with tho Jury, why, II may DO asked, not Dc
away with the death penalty altogether, ro
lieving twelve men Of the responsibility o
t,kirg fellow beings liteS Again Il ma,
b, asked, ifh DO crime for one man 70 TAX,
ano,her's life, why should tho taking Of
mans life by twelve men simply bocsus,
they o.. ina jury box. DO legAlizeds ",
have road OF cities and Of temples Of reiug,
established In the oldon times 10 which III,
slayer ofbn fellow-man could Zee, and II h
reached tho gates Of the ono or the portals o
The other be was forever free from the ven
gsancs ofall, and only his conscience me,ot
oul punishment 70 him Afterwards. This Of,
custom always Inspired US with respect 70
II originaton and No have ever felt syer
snes for them. There b such spirl. Of hu
mainly, such tenderness Of feeling IL II
idsA % much Of mercy In II that Il sssu
nks w influence ought V reach dow
through Ne gsossations that have passs
svsa v 10 10 our boasssd oivillsstioa q
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